Fishermen service 'full of joy' on minster return

The service was held at Grimsby Minster, next to the fishermen's memorial

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.

Ms Brown added: “To be back here is amazing. We are in the centre of Grimsby, right next to the fishermen's memorial."

Former fisherman Peter Green said the Triple Trawler Tragedy left him 'broken-hearted'

Former fisherman Peter Green had been a regular at the services up until the pandemic and said he felt "so proud and honoured to be here".

He was working at the time of the Triple Trawler Tragedy in 1968 and still remembers what it was like.

He said: "When those three ships went down in those three weeks, I was there.

"I was broken-hearted. Could we do anything? No, because the weather was too bad and it would have been us next."

Jane Hyldon-King was among those paying their respects and explained why it was so important the community paid tribute.

"Virtually every other week a ship would go down, a trawler would be lost," she said.

"It affected all of the community. Whenever a ship did go down, it wasn’t just the family of that ship, it was all the fishermen."

Canon Peter Mullins said it was important the service returned to the minster.

"There has been a life lost this year so making the fishing industry still part of the major centre here is moving," he added.

According to The Seafarers' Charity, fishing is "one of the most dangerous professions in the UK" with 11,000 people working on fishing vessels in "a harsh and unpredictable environment".

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