2017 Hull’s Special Year

I have lived at the foot of the Humber Bridge in Barton for over ten years. Technically I hear the fog horn warning ships to take care in the misty waters of East Yorkshire from North Lincolnshire. My nearest City, and where my heart lies is Hull, City of Culture 2017. I was ecstatic when I heard Hull had been chosen as UK City of Culture as I had moved here from Shetland, a remote group of Islands at the top of Scotland, in 2006. Since I have lived in Barton most of my waking hours have been spent in Hull City Centre. I love the Old Town with its cobbled streets and pubs and buildings full of history. The fruit market area where European Immigrants set sail for a new life in America, biding their time in the local Inns and Hotels. The Deep with its tropical fish and penguins looking out to the North Sea. The Marina with ships and pubs and new thriving restaurants. The Art Gallery and Museum with a great collection of whaling artefacts. Three Theatres Hull New Theatre and The Truck Theatre and the new open air one at The Deep. And the little bits of history tucked away here and there like a fountain with mermaids at the base on a roundabout in a residential area. Now what is that all about!

Shetland once had strong ties with Hull. Hull was a major whaling port in the 1700 and 1800s. Made in Hull events in the first three months of 2017 will depict history and achievement in Hull over the last 70 years. There will be a huge firework display on 1st January near the Marina to kick things off and projections on buildings depicting 70 years of great achievements which have come form Hull. Yet Hull’s history goes back farther than that. It had been a major European whaling port for hundreds of years. I lived on the Shetland Mainland in a deserted settlement of farmers and fishermen called Grobsness near Voe. The only way to get there easily in bad weather is by boat. Only our house remained by the 21st Century, East House Grobsness. The deserted, derelict crofts surrounded us on all sides. The house lay in acres of rolling hills and was surrounded by sea on three sides. But once the houses were full of people, some of whom worked on whaling ships which originated from Hull. As the wind whistled through glassless windows and I stared at the roof sunken former homes with peeling red paint on windows and cold unused fire grates, I wondered where the inhabitants had gone. Research at a Lighthouse in the North of the Mainland gave me the answer. Some of the people who lived in Grobsness went off to Greenland on whaling ships which originated from Hull. It’s like the ghosts of the valley were drawing me to Hull to tell the story of their adventure. You can read about that in The Hanged Man of Grobsness. A book I have written about whaling which has scenes set in Hull. 2017 Hull’s Special Year is the story I am telling now as it unfolds. There will be 365 days of cultural celebration in Hull in 2017. It kicks off with fireworks to rival those in London on New Years Day at Hull Marina. It is an open event anyone can attend. 2017 Hull’s Special Year is a diary of events as they unfold through the eyes of the people who live the events as they unfold There will be monthly instalments on this site following me as I attend various events and venues. From plays to visits to the art gallery and museums There will be insights from community groups, family members , and interviews with some of the people exhibiting or supporting events. At the end of the year the book 2017 Hulls Special Year will be available. A celebration of Hull’s Year as City of Culture through the eyes of those who lived it. You are part of it. Mail me at kerryevans@talktalk.net if you would like to be included in the diary of events. In Hull#s celebration of culture be it music, theatre, art or community based events. It is your special year. Be part of it forever, There will be a link to Hull City Of Culture official web page. Kerry Evans Author 2017 Hull’s Special Year

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