Skipper of historic vessels quits port over ‘lack of support’ for tourism plan
THE SKIPPER of two historic vessels has quit Hull for Grimsby, citing a lack of council support for his plans to develop them as a tourist attraction.
Mal Nicholson last month moved Spider T and the replica of HMS Pickle, after five years at Hull Marina.
The 1926 Humber sloop, which he rescued from the scrap heap, took part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
At the height of summer, the two vessels were attracting thousands of visitors.
His decision comes as the £27m Yorkshire’s Maritime City project, led by Hull Council and designed to make more of the city’s nautical attractions, ramps up.
Mr Nicholson said his suggestion that the vessels could prove useful while the Maritime Museum, the Arctic Corsair – a 1960 deep sea trawler – and the Spurn Lightship are getting refurbished, fell on deaf ears. The ships are not due to reopen for at least 18 months while the museum will remain closed until 2024.
Mr Nicholson also claims that attending early stage talks about the Lottery-funded project was a “fool’s errand” and merely a boxticking exercise.
“I didn’t ask for money or anything – just support,” he said.
“There was no support at all. I would go as far as to say that every opportunity they had to kick the legs from under us, that was the case. It’s a shame for the people of Hull because they have been fabulous.”
Adam Fowler, from the Hull and Humber Environment Forum, is trying to broker a solution with Hull Council. He said it could involve creating a historic quay on the east wall of Humber Dock in the Marina.
Hull Council said it had written to the forum, adding: “We have outlined the ways in which we can assist and support Mr Nicholson with this project.”