Heritage ‘Hometown Hero’ Jerry dedicates phone box to his mum
SPECIAL DAY: Children from Adelaide Primary School helped mark the unveiling of Jerry Thompson’s phone box
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
Hull heritage champion Jerry Thompson has dedicated his ‘Hometown Heroes’ phone box to the memory of his mum.
Jerry founded the Hull Fishing Heritage Centre in 2019, after a lifetime preserving and championing the history of Hull’s trawlermen and close-knit fishing community.
He unveiled a classic cream phone box off Hessle Road named in his honour, adding it was a privilege to have been chosen to get his own K6 kiosk as part of KCOM’s Hometown Heroes campaign.
He said: “I’m incredibly proud to be here today. This isn’t just for me, it’s for all the people who have helped and volunteered at the Heritage Centre who have made it what it is.
“This telephone phone box has stood here for decades and was an important part of our lives and community. In the 50s and 60s, many fishermen and their families would have used this box to ring up the docks, so to have my name on it now is a real honour.
PROUD: Jerry Thompson in his new phone box
“I’d like to dedicate it to my mother. She lost her father when she was just 13 and was left with nothing. But she went on and worked hard and eventually raised me and my brother to be the men we are today. She would’ve been really proud to see this.”
To mark the unveiling of the K6, Jerry was joined at the Fishing Heritage Centre by Year Four children from Adelaide Primary School, who have been learning all about Hull’s rich fishing history and the Headscarf Revolutionaries – the women who fought for better rights and safety standards for their trawlermen husbands.
While there, history was brought to life for the excited youngsters by Hull actress Gina Garton, who performed her one-woman show as the indominable Headscarf Revolutionary, Lillian Bilocca, telling them all about hardships and lives of the ‘Three Day Millionaire’ trawlermen and their families.
Jerry and the children then took the short walk from the centre up Boulevard to Jerry’s K6. There he was greeted by a surprise performance from Hull Trinity House Academy’s Drum Corps.
Megan Read, head of performing arts at Trinity House Academy, said: “It’s great to be part of a day like today and to be part of something connecting our students to the local community. Congratulations to Jerry – it was pleasure to perform for him.”
ONE-WOMAN SHOW: Gina Garton performing as Lillian Bilocca
Susan Adams, KCOM’s director of corporate affairs, said: “Jerry is an incredibly deserving Hometown Hero for everything he’s done to preserve the history and heritage of Hull’s fishing community. To see the children here today so fascinated by the stories of our city’s fishing heritage was brilliant and shows how important Jerry and his team’s work has been.
“The performance by Trinity House’s Drum Corps was the icing on the cake and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate someone who’s a real inspiration to the community.”
Jerry is the latest Hometown Hero to receive his own cream K6 kiosk, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Previous heroes have included Hull NHS nurse Cath Lyon, BAFTA-winning actor Roberty Aramayo, and England footballer Lioness Jess Park.
To find out more about all of KCOM’s Hometown Heroes visit www.kcom.com/home/hometown-heroes
To find out more about Jerry’s work at the Hull Heritage Fishing Centre visit www.hullbullnoseheritagegroup.co.uk