When I was asked if I fancied writing a column each month for Hull Hub it took me all of 2 seconds to say ‘Yes’. Anything that helps promote positivity about our wonderful city is fine by me. The world is full of too much sadness and doom and gloom, we need to have happiness and good news in our lives. This is the aim of The Hull Hub and I am honoured to be a part of it.
Now I am a Hessle Road lad myself ( or should that be ‘Essle Rerd ? ) and very proud to come from such a historic and iconic area. Recently I was delighted to get to host an event where the guest of honour was another Hessle Road born person, but one with a much more significant history than myself. That person was Yvonne Blenkinsop, the last surviving member of Hull’s Headscarf Heroes. She is not far off her 81st birthday and she is a fabulous character. Her role, along with that of Lillian Bilocca, Mary Denness and Christine Jensen, in turning the fishing industry on its head and making changes which saved countless lives can never be underestimated. I am delighted that Yvonne has being given the honour of switching on the Hull Christmas Lights this year and fully back the argument that she should be given the freedom of the City. The event in which I met Yvonne was the 10th Annual Humberside Fire and Rescue Community Awards. It’s a night to make you feel very humble but also to make you feel very proud. The Country Park Inn was the venue and it was full with heroes each and every one of them, not that they would call themselves, they are far too modest. Men and women from the various departments of the fire service, ambulance service and police force from right across Humberside getting rewarded for some amazing acts throughout the year. It’s a real honour to host this event and to meet so many people who we take for granted, and who go about their business with minimum fuss and with everyone’s interest at heart. Sadly not everyone can go home with an award but they can all feel very proud of the role they play in society.
Have you visited the new Bonus Arena yet? If not then I can highly recommend it. It really is a stunning venue and is bringing some terrific events to the city. We have had great music stars, comedians and even the UK Seniors Snooker Championship. Chatting to people who attended the snooker, they said it was a perfect venue for it and the players all tweeted about their love of it too. Great to see that it will continue to host the event until 2020. Myself, I paid a first visit to watch the brilliant ‘Early Doors’ which is on an arena tour. One of my all time favourite sitcoms so it was great to be able to go and see it on a big stage, with a big crowd, and without the cost and inconvenience of travelling to Leeds or Sheffield. It’s wonderful to see that the entertainment will carry on into 2019 too with a stellar line up of acts already lined up. The Beach Boys, Richard Ashcroft, Romesh Ranganathan, Rhod Gilbert to name a few plus the Strictly and X Factor tours. It literally does have something for everyone and it’s something the city has needed for some time. If you have yet to make a visit then I am sure you will enjoy it when you do. It is a great venue that compliments the wonderful City Hall, New Theatre and Hull Truck. We are very lucky to have such great venues. No wonder Hull is now one of the UK’s most improved cities.
Well it’s that time of year again, dark nights, Christmas lights and waking up to a frosty car. Enjoy your festive period and I hope you appear on Santa’s ‘nice’ list. Have a wonderful time.
