Digging Up The Past By Cilla

Months ago we published an series of articles written by a man who was witness to the events in The Cod Wars. His name is John Boldock and his story is an honest account of what life was like for him as a young man in what were dangerous and terrifying times. Read his story Super tug to defend fishing fleet After the story had been published on the site, I received an email from Bryan Holgate (pictured below) in Canada, an ex-Hullian who also had a story to tell about life in Hull.

Bryan had read the Cod Wars. articles and it brought back memories of his own. After a bit of persuasion, Bryan wrote his story too. He told of his life as a teenager in the 1960's working as an apprentice armature winder in Hull. Read his story here. Hull - A Personal History Part One

Recently, I had an email from Maurice Fairfield, a man born and bred in Hull whose life had taken him to Australia, Melbourne and who also had an itch to scratch - a story to tell about his life and times. Maurice wrote to thisisUll.com, commenting on the Armature Winder's Story which he'd particularly enjoyed. I couldn't believe it!

And Maurice has started to write already - Made In Hull - Part One - Arundel Street Days By Maurice Fairfield

I love these stories. They're our history. It gives me an amazing feeling to know that something which could so easily be lost is preserved. The value of that tiny piece of history telling how life was by a real person is inestimable. Priceless. Mo and I go out with the camera and hunt for landmarks mentioned in each story to illustrate with real pictures.

It's surprising what you can find in Hull, although as I write this, Ferensway is being demolished - a thousand more memories gone forever.

In Bryan's case, it wasn't too difficult to find a lot of the places he remembered - even down to his initials scraped on a wall back in 1965. With Maurice, it was different. Maurice was born in 1928 and in a part of the city which was completely eradicated in the 1970's 'slum clearance'.

We visited the area desperately searching for anything remaining which Maurice had written about. The railway bridges were there, some of the street names are still there. But no relic of life from all those years ago.

I went to the Hull City Archives which is a treasure trove of local history. Lo and behold, they found me a box full of old black and white photographs from 1972. All the descriptions I'd read in Maurice's writing came to life. It must have looked much the same for years and years. Washing lines still hung between the terraces. An old man in his slippers bending to pick up a pint of 'steri' from the doorstep. The corner shop. It was all there. Perfect.

I had to stop there and retreat. To have a copy of one of these photographs (in any format) would cost £5 (£2 for any others). My plea to the staff there fell on deaf ears.

Regardless of the value of my work to find these fabulous personal accounts which I do for love, not money, I can't include the real photographs because they cost too much.

So the photographs and precious memories are now back in their box on the shelf, filed away as 'compulsory purchase slum clearance', no doubt not seeing the light of day again for another 30 years. I think it's a shame.

But the story is enough to more than make up for my frustration and real sadness. Read it and you'll see what I mean. The Internet is a fantastic thing and as we publish the first part of Maurice's story, I'll be waiting and wondering who and what will come next.

If you have any photographs from that time we can publish with these real life stories from the past, please get in touch. cilla@thisisull.com

Articles - The Oscars 2004 By Steve Rudd

	The highlight of Hollywood's calendar, The Oscars seem to come around faster every year. Our man in LA to report back to Britain on proceedings was Film 2004 face Jonathan Ross who didn't do a bad job at all, but seemed hampered by his panel of three accompanying guests in the form of Welsh (supposed) funnyman Rob Brydon, and the impersonating duo of Ronni Read more...

Articles - World Book Day 2004 Event Review By Rich Mills

	It may not be the actual World Book Day 2004 until the 4th of March, and the 100th anniversary of Dr. Seuss being born on the 2nd of March, but Lifelong Learning at the city council held an event at the Ferens Art Gallery on this Saturday. The event which lasted from 10:00am until 3:00pm, was a day of workshops and great fun for the children and adults alike. Read more...

Articles - If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next (How Hull helped the children of Spain.) By Rich Mills
	In May 1937 the Spanish liner Habana left Bilbao in Spain, on-board were 4,200 Basque children being brought to the safety of the UK. The Spanish Civil War had started on July 17th 1936, and the world stood by and watched in horror as innocents were slaughtered. Some however took it upon themselves to do something about the blood-shed. Read more...

Articles - Pregnancy - Revisited by Nicholas Boldock
	Life - it's a funny old game. Love, loss, rejection, success, pride, humility, happiness, sorrow - all part and parcel of the old cradle-to-grave board game. Personally, my life has taken a turn for the "bloody hectic" over the last week or so. And I think I now have an idea what this funny old game is all about. Those of you who are lucky enough to have no problems with short.. Read more...

Articles - Radio Airplay - Why just go for English Radio Shows? - It's a Big World Out There

	By Glenn Williams (Lazyswede productions) Bands are always complaining that they cannot get their CD's played on air and it's true, for most unsigned bands is not easy unless it's something really special. There are shows Like Alan Raw's Raw Talent which does its best to give all bands an opportunity to be heard which is very good. Read more...

Articles - Hull, Hell And Incidents, Deliver Us. By Patrick Henry

	My arrival in Scarborough at the age of zero happened only months after my folks moved here from the Hull area, so that their voices and views impressed me stronger than those in my birthplace. Mother said Hullers look down or up to nobody, but Scarborians look always over their shoulder jealous of anyone having more than deserved, or more than grabbed by themselves. Read more...

Articles - A Woman in Chains.

	I am, I suppose, a woman in chains. In this extremely bizarre world we try to live in, I will always be linked to my past.... 15 years ago I was involved in a crime, something I did because I was young, unguided and naïve. I lost more than my freedom as if that wasn't enough; I lost my children, my home, my family and most of my friends. Read more...

Articles - Festivals - Organising the Organisers By Cilla.

	Isn't the Internet a fantastic thing? I recently posted a message on www.ents24.com, a music forum, letting people know about the music section on thisisUll.com. Later that evening I returned to the forum to see if my posting had been looked at - it had. A chap called Pete had left me a message after visiting this website. Read more...

Articles - The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang By Patrick Henry
	The Hole-in-the-Wall is a pub found in Scarborough's Vernon Road, a steep hill linking the town centre almost to the sea-front and the Spa, and in the lower half of the street is almost the only building but for the quaint Rotunda museum. Otherwise only blank tall walls rise, holding up gardens and terrace-housing high beyond. Read more...

Articles - Tribal Tattoo . By Starpaw.

Last week the humdrum of everyday life was getting me down; I needed a pick-me-up, a rush - but where exactly do today's rebellious teena...20 somethings go to get their kicks? A piercing and tattoo shop? Surely not? It'd been a week since I'd been gearing myself up for this, the time it had taken to find a willing victim, I mean friend, to take with me to hold my hand, so to speak while I pay.. Read more...

Articles - Star Wars Enter the Folk Music Scene

	By Patrick Henry. The NorthYorkshire moors are a remote area full of historical incidents up to the present when the Fylingdales missile-defence station has just been pledged to the U.S. Star-Wars system. Roman forts, Viking raids, besieged castles from the Normans to the Stuarts, litter the fringes. The Cold War nuclear brink .. Read more...