Artistic flair at Ferens Art Gallery

HRH the Queen Mother opens the refurbished Ferens Art Gallery in 1991

THIS week we take a trip back in time to October 31, 1991, to see the reopening of one of Hull’s most famous cultural and historic institutions, the Ferens Art Gallery.

The opening event was performed by HRH the Queen Mother, who unveiled a plaque to signify the completion of many months of work which saw the gallery transformed into an art space for the future.

It included work on an extension which provided three new exhibition galleries, new facilities, a lift for disabled access from the ground floor and a plan to turn the auditorium into a seated live art space. Work began in

1989 and saw sections of the gallery closed off to allow works to be carried out but also for some artworks and visiting exhibitions to be displayed.

The Queen Mother arrived by a royal RAF flight at the Humberside airport in the morning and was carried by car to the Queen Victoria Square. She was welcomed and escorted during her trip by the Lord Lieutenant of Humberside, Tony Bethell, with her visit to the Ferens

being hosted by the Lord Mayor of Hull, Councillor Dennis Woods.

Her majesty was given a tour of the gallery by the late Trevor Larsen, who was the chairman of the city council’s Leisure Services Committee in the 1990s. In that role he helped spearhead the development of the Museum’s Quarter in Hull’s Old Town, which included the construction of the Streetlife Museum and the restoration of the Arctic Corsair trawler as a museum attraction. He also provided the political leadership to secure the funding for the extension and refurbishment of the Ferens Art Gallery.

The Queen Mother’s tour of the gallery included watching pupils from the Frederick Holmes School give an artistic performance with wheelchairs.

After her departure she made a traditional walk-about around the Queen Victoria Square to meet fans who waited to greet her.

The 1991 plaque the Queen Mother unveiled was situated near to a foundation stone which was laid in 1926 by the Queen Mother’s brother in law, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII).

The original gallery building was finally completed in 1927 after taking 18 months to build and was constructed on the site of the St John the Evangelist church. TR Ferens couldn’t actually open the gallery himself due to an injury but his niece, a Miss Wentworth, completed the duty.

ROYAL GREETING: A guard of honour provided by the uniformed pupils of the Hull Trinity House School greeted the Queen Mother when she arrived at the Ferens, here she is escorted by Lord Mayor of Hull, Councillor Dennis Woods.

MEET AND GREET: A pupil from the Frederick Holmes School talks with the Queen Mother, alongside Trevor Larsen (right) who gained funding for the refurbishment of the gallery.

UNVEILING: The Queen Mother unveils the plaque which marked her official visit to open the refurbished Ferens Art Gallery with its new extension.

FLOWER POWER: Neil Woods, son of the Lord Mayor of Hull, Councillor Dennis Woods, presents a posy to the Queen Mother inside the Ferens Art Gallery.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: The Queen Mother watches a display by pupils from the Frederick Holmes School, held in the new Live Art Space which was created during the recent refurbishment of the gallery. On her left is Trevor Larsen who played a large part in gaining funds to complete the project. On the left is Councillor Dennis Woods and on the right the Lord Lieutenant of Humberside, Tony Bethell, with Lady Jane Bethell. Look out for more images of the royal visit in Thursday’s Daily Flashback.

PUBLIC GREETING: Crowds get a chance to speak and see the Queen Mother when she took a brief walk-about in Queen Victoria Square after she opened the recently Ferens Art Gallery.

GALLERY TOUR: The curator of the Ferens Art Gallery, the late John Bradshaw, describe some of the history of the art pieces in the Ferens to the esteemed visitor for the day, the Queen Mother.