Mural honours Headscarf Revolutionaries

The mural is on the side of a community centre in Hull

A new mural celebrating the lives of women who fought for safety improvements on trawlers has been painted in Hull.

The Headscarf Revolutionaries took on the fishing industry and government following the sinking of three trawlers in the 1960s.

Four of the women have been honoured with the artwork by Hull College students on a community centre wall.

An unveiling ceremony was attended by former trawlermen, local historians and politicians including Hull MP Emma Hardy and city councillor Darren Hale.

The mural on the Maurice Rawlings Community Centre in Bean Street was supervised by local artist Andy Pea.

It features portraits of Lillian Bilocca, Christine Jensen, Mary Denness and Yvonne Blenkinsop.

The campaign started when 58 fishermen lost their lives after three trawlers sank in the space of less than a month in 1968.

Despite opposition, they collected a 10,000-signature petition calling for reform, led protest meetings and lobbied politicians.

Among the measures the campaign won were safety checks before vessels left port, radio operators for all ships, improved safety equipment and a "mother ship" with medical facilities.

The mural was painted by students from Hull College

Mr Pea said the students came up with the idea of a fishing net.

"As it twirls and twists it comes into a headscarf," he said.

"And then in front we decided to work around the idea of putting the Headscarf Revolutionaries, all four of them.

"We decided to play with the idea of Pop Art to give it that real vibrant hit of colour to the area."

A reproduction of the mural will be placed in the college's Art Institute building in the city centre.

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