St. Andrew’s Memorial Books

 

Over a two year period, from 2000 – 2002, STAND raised funds of almost £27,000. This could not have been done without the generosity of the general public. The funds were used to create the St. Andrew’s Memorial Books which were commissioned in 2002.

The Memorial Books, which have been beautifully scripted in a calligraphic handwriting, contain an accurate and pictorial register which records the thousands of fishermen who were lost during peacetime whilst sailing from the Port of Hull. This data does not include those lost due to the hostilities of World War One and World War Two.

 

 

In addition to the personal details of those lost, watercolour drawings and the tragic circumstances of the incidents are highlighted.

These books are exhibited in a special cabinet on the 2nd floor at Hull’s Maritime Museum, situated in Queen Victoria Square, Hull.                           

Day by day the page is turned by museum staff, to show the vessels and the men who were lost on that date.

A computerised touch screen also allows digital access to the data contained within the books.                     

The core data for these Memorial Books was researched and supplied by local researcher, the late Brian Langley.

                                            

The original idea for these books was suggested by  Rev. Michael Hills who was then the Vicar at St. John the Baptist Church, (the fisherman’s church) in St. Georges Road, off Hessle Road.  the late Brian Langley. The organisation and assimilation of the material was overseen by Michael Swain, who at the time served on the STAND Committee, with the beautiful hand calligraphy being scripted by Christopher Tansey, a local teacher.  The project overall was managed and financed by the STAND Committee from funds generously donated by the public.  The cabinet in which the books are housed was made and donated by MFI Manufacturing Division, Hull and constructed by S.P. Wheeler. Displayed within the cabinet is the MBE medal, awarded to Christine Jenson (nee Gay) for her commitment to her work to the fishing community work.

In 2020 the Hull: Yorkshire Maritime City Project began. The Maritime Museum where the Memorial Books were housed is to receive extensive refurbishment and enhancement. In order to carry out this work all artefacts have been placed in temporary storage. The Memorial Books have found a new temporary home within the Hull History Centre allowing them to remain on public display until the restoration work is completed at the Maritime Museum.