Grim and Havelock statue back after 18 years

The statue of Grim and Havelock is at Grimsby's Fishing Heritage Centre

The statue of the legendary founder of Great Grimsby has gone back on public display following restoration.

The Grim and Havelock sculpture is currently part of an exhibition at Grimsby's Fishing Heritage Centre.

The statue depicts the legendary story of Grim, a Danish fisherman, rescuing a young Havelock, a Danish prince, off the Lincolnshire coast.

It will soon have a new permanent home at Freeman Street Market in Grimsby.

Tim Wain-Hobson is the son of the sculptor and is delighted with the restoration

The newly restored work was unveiled on Saturday at a private event with guests including Tim Wain-Hobson, the son of the sculptor Douglas Wain-Hobson.

Mr Wain-Hobson told BBC Radio Humberside: "It's absolutely lovely to see the old man's statue back in Grimsby fully restored.

"He'd be really chuffed to see it back here in such good condition."

Decapitated by vandals

Grim and Havelock stood outside Grimsby College, now Grimsby Institute, at Nun’s Corner from 1973 until 2006.

It was removed on health and safety grounds after Havelock was decapitated by vandals.

Havelock’s head, an arm and genitalia were missing before restoration.

He was restored by retired Lincolnshire businessman Will Hennessy at his workshop in Louth free of charge.

The sculpture is now part of an exhibition about the legend of Grim and Havelock at the Fishing Heritage Centre which has been put on by Equality Practice.

Tracy Todd from the group said: "The Freemen of Grimsby will take permanent custodianship of it for the people of Grimsby."

The statue will go on permanent display at Freeman Street Market in Grimsby after the exhibition which ends on the 30 June.

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