Tag Archives: GRIMSBY
Tributes to heroic ex-Grimsby skipper James ‘Jim’ Gamble following his death aged 97
Tributes have been paid to a heroic ex-Grimsby trawler skipper and tugmaster following his death at the age of 97. During his long career at sea, James “Jim” Gamble was awarded for outstanding seamanship demonstrated in the rescue of 14 trawlermen from a stricken Grimsby vessel off the coast of Iceland in 1955. Jim was the then 28-year-old skipper of another Grimsby vessel, the Viviana, when he fought a force 10 storm and mountainous seas to bring her alongside the drifting 380-ton Barry Castle so that crew members could jump aboard. The 455-ton Viviana rescued ten crew within seven minutes. Four men who fell between the two trawlers were picked up by other vessels and four other men who were down below, tragically perished as the Barry Castle sank on November 1, 1955. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:41
Fishermen service ‘full of joy’ on minster return
A service to commemorate fishermen who have lost their lives at sea took place at Grimsby Minster on Sunday. The service, which has been held annually for more than 60 years, was back at the minster for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. Family members of fishermen attended the service while wreaths were also laid by the memorial in St James Square. The Fishermen’s Mission Port Officer Suesan Brown said it was a “solemn occasion” but one that was “so full of joy because it’s that remembering of those people who have gone”. Grimsby was once claimed to be the biggest fishing port in the world and the community was determined to bring the service back to the town. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:40
Humber Ports Showing Significant Growth in UK Fish Imports
The Humber ports, operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), have solidified their position as the UK’s premier hub for seafood imports, according to newly released statistics. In the past year, the ports of Immingham, Grimsby, and Hull handled a remarkable 41.6% of the fish imported into the UK, marking a 10.5% increase from the previous year. This growth underscores the Humber ports’ vital role as a key gateway for the UK’s seafood trade. The strategic location of ABP’s Humber ports, coupled with their proximity to major seafood processing centers, has created a highly efficient and industry-leading hub. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:02
What a year it’s been for historic trawler Ross Tiger!
From reopening to the public in March following vital deck works, to celebrating 30 years as a museum ship at Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, it really has been a busy but positive time for the iconic ship. Standing proud in the Alexandra Dock, she has welcomed visitors, young and old, from far and wide, for three decades. Fishing is still seen as one of our most dangerous peacetime occupations, and today, Ross Tiger is a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication of Grimsby’s brave fishing pioneers. Photos, Video, more, >>click to read<< 09:55
Scots salmon boss accused of spying is key player in plan for ‘UK’s largest fish farm’
According to Companies House, Craig Anderson is a “person with significant control” of AquaCultured Seafood Limited, which submitted early stage plans for a £75m onshore salmon farm in the English town at the end of last year. Anderson was the chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) who asked a private investigator to compile an ‘intelligence report’ on the anti-fish farming campaigner, Corin Smith, as first revealed by The Ferret in November 2021. The intelligence report included analysis of Smith’s movements and behaviour, searches of his financial and legal history, and pictures of his house. One environmental group said at the time that the SSC had used “Big Brother levels of corporate snooping” against Smith. >click to read< 10:45
Iconic fishing trawler with exciting history could return to Grimsby’s waters following restoration
An infamous trawler which played a key role in the fishing industry heyday, bringing home the world’s biggest catch, and then used as the base for a formerly illegal pirate radio station could be brought back to its home waters of Grimsby. Home to independent and now legitimate radio station, Radio Caroline, the Ross Revenge trawler – sister ship to the Ross Tiger – began fishing out of Grimsby in 1963 and brought home record catches of fish, including the world record of 218 tonnes of Icelandic cod in 1976, which sold for over £75,000. Photos, >click to read< 08:19
Bomb Damaged Crabber Rebuilt
F/V Galwad-Y-Mor has fished from Grimsby for many years and was 20 miles north of Cromer in December 2020 when the crew reported to the skipper that there was unusually high tension on the back rope, indicating that the gear had snagged on an obstruction in a water depth of around 30 metres. Before the crew could take any further action, what is now believed to have been a 250kg bomb dating back to the Second World War 
detonated directly beneath the hull, triggering a massive shock wave. Galwad-Y-Mor is believed to have dropped 6-7 metres into the gas bubble generated by the explosion, with the vessel thrown sharply back to the surface as the bubble filled. The result was massive damage to the vessel and all of the crew were hurt – with some of them receiving life-changing injuries. photos, >click to read< 10:59
Grimsby man whose house was full of model boats sells 400 of them at auction
Pete Dixon, 75, who spent 40 years of his life working on trawlers as a cook, acquired an incredible 600 model boats over the years which he kept around his rented home on Heneage Road. From floor to ceiling, Pete’s home was full of the boats – he even kept some in the bath because he ran out of space. But on Sunday, the time came for him to sell the majority of these at Prestige Auctions on Orwell Street in Grimsby – and people as far away as Australia, New Zealand and America were keen to get their hands on Pete’s boats. “Pete’s house still has boats in it, but they are going to be coming to Prestige Auctions in the coming weeks. There’s still about 100 boats that are going to be going to auction. His memorabilia collection will be coming in soon – that’s his Grimsby trawlers, paintings, life rings off the old trawlers – there’s a hell of a collection, and we need to sell all of that as well. >click to read< 14:41
Ex-fisherman forced to sell collection of 600 toy boats because they’re a ‘fire hazard’
Pete Dixon, 75, started collecting radio-controlled vessels when he split up with his wife 30 years ago. And now he has filled every room in his three-bedroom privately rented home in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, he has been told it’s a fire hazard – and the boats have to go. ‘When I finished fishing, I bought a couple of boats and I got the bug and started collecting them,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t like to guess how much money I’ve spent over the years, but it must be tens of thousands. It was more or less every penny I had.’ Pete’s boats will go under the hammer on Sunday with Prestige Auctions, which is where he bought many of the vessels from in the first place. Photos, >click to read< 09:38
‘You’re gonna need a bigger boat’ – monster 6ft cod landed in seaside town
A record-breaking monster cod has been snapped up by punters in a British seaside town. The humongous sea creature weighs a whopping 112lbs (51 kg) and measures almost 6ft (180cm) tall. It was pulled off the coast of Iceland in by fishermen aboard the trawler Bergey and landed on Monday (April 4) in Grimsby, Lincs. The cod, which is believed to be the largest ever hooked in the North Atlantic, and could be 20 years old, was line caught in deep water off Iceland’s North-West coast. >click to read< 09:06
Ross Tiger goes digital as visitors can take a virtual tour of Grimsby trawler
Grimsby’s historic trawler the Ross Tiger has gone digital as you can now take a virtual tour around the boat. The new initiative from Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre lets you explore the ship from the comfort of an armchair. A 3D replica of the ship allows you to see the iconic trawler in new ways, including areas usually hidden below the water line. “The new tour allows users to explore Ross Tiger in a unique way using incredible new technologies which bring the vessel to life through a combination of exciting visuals, interactive activities and information.” >click to read< Visit Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre >click here< 08:34
The government has recognized the existence of Cod War Syndrome
‘We are the forgotten warriors,’ said former fisherman Mike McLeish from Grimsby. ‘Sure the Battle of Britain pilots are all heroes, and the Falklands veterans have their medals and memorials. But when it comes to the Cod War, people imply it wasn’t so important or dangerous. It’s almost as if it they are saying it wasn’t a proper war.’ ‘That’s exactly what we are saying’ said Defence minister Des Browne. ‘And we are only recognizing Cod War Syndrome to shut up this one nutter from Grimsby who has been badgering us for years. He’s a complete loser and he apparently blames it all on the trauma of a 1970s fishing crisis, so we thought we’d go along with it in the hope that he might just go away.’ Wow! >click to read< 10:31
Why Brexit will be fishing industry’s salvation
When I am out and about in Grimsby, the most commonly asked question I get is: “When are we going to get our fishing waters back, and are we going to get them back?” I say to my constituents: “Yes, absolutely.” Grimsby’s association with the fishing industry goes back centuries, but the modern industry started in the 1800s. By 1900, 10 per cent of all the fish eaten in the UK was landed in Grimsby. What fishing brought to Grimsby was wealth, investment into the docks and a direct train link to London. That was the power of the fishing industry to us. Unfortunately, that industry has been taken away from us, first because of the cod wars with Iceland, impact of the Common Fisheries Policy,,, By Lia Nici >click to read< 08:20
Funeral procession for fisherman Gus “Scotch Gus” Graham to pass his regular pubs along Freeman Street Grimsby to honour much-loved town character
Mourners have been urged to line Grimsby streets to say farewell to one of the town’s best-known fishermen. The funeral cortege carrying Angus “Scotch Gus” Graham will leave his home at Banbury Court on Victor Street and travel along Freeman Street where he was known as a regular at most of the pubs. Sadly Gus sadly died aged 68 years. Daughter Claire said he was “a big friendly giant” and will be missed by his family and his many friends. She told how he moved to Grimsby from his native Campeltown on Argyll and Bute when he was just 17 years. He had learned fishing working with his uncles from the age of 14 years. His first job was with Dury Brothers on Grimsby docks. >click to read< 15:57
Lady Sophie – Focus on shellfish
Made to harvest for shellfish for Grimsby company Fastline Shellfish, Lady Sophie has been built in Padstow to a new 12 metre design. Owners Fastline Shellfish are a family-owned business that has bee trading on the Grimsby docks since 2009, although the Kenyon family’s roots in the fishing industry go back a long way. Aiming to supply top-quality fresh shellfish, the focus is on cutting short the supply chain by catching its own crabs, lobsters and whelks, which are processed and supplied through the Fastline shop. video, photo’s, >click to read< 09:42
Sargon trawler came back from the dead in the days of no radio
In these days when ships are fitted with powerful radio apparatus with worldwide range, it is easy to forget the days when a ship was completely out of touch when she was out of sight of land. She could be lost for weeks on end. A classic example was the Sargon, missing from Grimsby for nearly a month and given up as lost with all hands. She was eventually picked up and returned to port in triumph. Sargon’s epic cruise started on January 5, 1923 when she sailed from Grimsby for the Murmansk coast. click here to read the story 17:51
Grimsby man stole his boat – and world fame
Some called him The Lone Captain, the BBC called him The Buccaneer. He called himself a Freelance of the Sea. But a criminal court judge had other words in mind and sent him to prison – and hard labour – for 18 months. But history, which dwells inordinately on the glamour of swashbuckling, has found a friendly niche for Dod Orsborne, a curious Jekyll and Hyde of a man who, in 1936, stole a seine netter from its owner and sailed out of Grimsby and into the newspaper headlines of the world. click here to read the story 12:56
Former deep-water fisherman reveals the tough, basic and disciplined life he had at sea
After my last trip on the Black Watch as relief bosun I found myself ashore with some time to myself for a change. However, like I thought, it was not long before offers of another ship came along, leaving me with some really good choices. Some of them I turned down for genuine reasons, like the Northern Crown, because that offer had come far too soon after my last voyage to Greenland, which would not have allowed me even 72 hours in dock. Also I had offers from the very first company that I’d ever sailed in when I left school at the tender age of 15. On that occasion I left school on Easter Friday and went to sea the following Tuesday aboard the Alfred Bannister owned coal burner Loch Park (GY 259). Life aboard those grand old ladies of the sea was so tough, basic and disciplined from the salty old characters who sailed in them, you just couldn’t help but learn the job pretty fast. Michael Sparkes click here to read the story 13:56
Better in or out? England’s former fishing hub faces EU dilemma
GRIMSBY, England: The European Union is not an abstract concept in Grimsby, an English port where many blame EU fishing quotas for destroying livelihoods, but views on whether Britain should quit the club are more nuanced than the decaying fish docks suggest. Located on the estuary of the river Humber on England’s northeastern coast, Grimsby was home to a fleet of some 600 trawlers in its 1950s heyday, but now there are hardly any left and the town struggles with a legacy of poverty and unemployment. Read the article here 09:17
