Hull Remembers its Lost Sons

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Hi All

Sad to read about the commemoration that was held in Hull (UK) today - this story courtesy of the BBC Web Site:

"City remembers trawler tragedies

The city centre of a major port came to a standstill on Tuesday as hundreds of people remembered 58 men killed in three trawler tragedies 40 years ago.

Relatives of the dead joined fishing and business communities at Hull's docks for a minute's silence on the anniversary of the third boat accident.

The losses became known as the "triple trawler tragedy" when three boats were lost in a three-week period.

In 1968 the St Romanus, the Kingston Peridot and Ross Cleveland were lost.

In the January, St Romanus sank with 20 men on board off the Norwegian coast.

Later that month, the Kingston Peridot vanished off the coast of Iceland with a crew of 20 and then the Ross Cleveland also sank just off Iceland on 5 February, killing 19 men.

Lord Mayor of Hull and Admiral of the Humber Brenda Petch, who was a guest of honour at the ceremony, said: "I think it is wonderful that the people of Hull have joined together in this minute's silence to commemorate those lives lost 40 years ago."

She said it was a "very sad day" for the families who lost loved ones aboard the trawlers.

"But I hope it may bring some comfort to them to know that so many people have remembered them and paid tribute to their honour."

A number of businesses stopped work across the city in respect for the trawler men who died.

Hull Business Forum's Nick Pontone said: "We have encouraged our members to observe the silence because the contribution these people made to the economic history of the area is enormous."

The Bishop of Hull, the Right Rev Richard Frith, added his support to the ceremony as a way to remember the city's maritime history.

"The industry may have been lost, but this minute's silence shows the sacrifice and suffering of the 58 victims of the 'triple trawler tragedy' and all Hull's lost 6,000 trawler men have not be forgotten."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/humber/7228811.stm

Published: 2008/02/05 16:17:22 GMT