Relief as stolen fishing memorial plaque is returned
MORE THAN 6,000 FISHERMEN LEFT HULL DOCKS NEVER TO RETURN
A PLAQUE honouring the 6,000 Hull fishermen lost at sea has been miraculously returned almost two weeks after it was stolen.
There was outrage among Hull’s fishing community after mindless thieves stole the plaque from the Bullnose on St Andrew’s Quay.
The area is the last point families could stand to say farewell as fishermen sailed out to the dangerous grounds around Iceland, Greenland and Russia.
More than 6,000 fishermen left the docks of Hull never to return with the city being one of the most thriving fishing ports in the country in the middle of the last century.
At the Bullnose, around 200 local fishermen’s ashes are scatted on the site.
Central to the site is a plinth with a plaque which commemorates those seafarers that left Hull, but never returned.
There was shock and anger after the plaque was taken earlier this month but volunteer Tommy Rhodes, who looks after the memorial daily, discovered the plaque.
Hessle-roader Allan Cope’s dad Richard Cope was responsible for installing the plaque and has spoken of his relief.
He said: “Tommy was down at the Bullnose to fish and had just dropped his line when he noticed something at the memorial.
“He said he took a closer look and realised it was the plaque. He couldn’t believe it and could’ve cried.
“To be honest, I thought it had gone forever and had been chucked into the Humber.
“If it was kids who took it maybe their parents found out and told them to return it or if it was adults, maybe they realised there was no way they could sell it.
“I would like to think those responsible had a pang of conscience and returned it.
“The Bullnose means so much to so many people. It is an iconic and sacred place. It is where people saw their fathers, brothers or sons for the last time.”
There is one issue now. A stonemason has already been commissioned to create a new plaque.
Allan says it is up to the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB), who maintain and look after the site, to decide the best course of action.
Allan said: “Perhaps the new plaque can be installed at the Bullnose and the original can be displayed at the Maritime Museum.
“We are chuffed to bits to have it back and it was a real surprise.”
The plaque has particular significance to Allan. He said: “The plaque was placed there by my dad in 1993.
“He and a few others did all the fundraising and had no help from anywhere else.
“His dad and my grandad was lost on board the Admiral Collingwood in 1936.
“Eventually, the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes took over looking after it and they have done a very good job.”