The Hull Story Year: 2025
GLORY: Hull Kingston Rovers celebrate their landmark Challenge Cup win in June, the first trophy of an unprecedented treble-winning season. Picture credit: Hull KR
A round-up of our top stories from 2025, by Co-Editor Simon Bristow
JANUARY
The start of the year saw a significant development in a case that continues to throw a shadow across the city when Humberside Police submitted a file to prosecutors as part of its long-running investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. A hopeful note when the city council submitted a bid for Hull to become a UNESCO Creative City of Music [New Adelphi Club pictured]. The 36th Annual Lost Trawlermen’s Day Service was held at St John the Baptist Church, and The Hull Story won a Front Page of the Year award for its September 2024 edition.
FEBRUARY
In a sign of troubled times for our hospitality industry, top restaurant The Hispanist, pictured, closed due to rising costs. We revealed delays to a key part of the Hull Maritime project as the lack of a dredging licence held up plans to move historic trawler Arctic Corsair to a new dry dock. The line-up was announced for the city’s new science and arts festival Colliderfest, and a Bee Lady Day was announced to celebrate the life of remarkable Hull fundraiser Jean Bishop.
MARCH
Intrepid former soldier Karl Bushby, pictured, neared Europe, the final leg of his unprecedented and epic walk home to Hull from South America. Chris Todd became the new chief constable of Humberside Police. A tanker and a container ship collided in a major incident in the North Sea. Hull failed in its bid to become a UNESCO City of Music but vowed to try again, and Ukraine’s Culture Minister Galyna Grygorenko thanked Hull for its support on a visit to the city.
APRIL
We revealed that Sandy Smith, pictured, a resident at Hull almshouse The Charterhouse, faced eviction for not attending its chapel. We also revealed how teenage girls in Hull faced a mental health crisis, with one in three reporting “poor” or “very poor” mental health. And there was a further breakthrough in the Legacy Funerals case as Robert Bush was charged with 64 offences.
MAY
Former boxer Luke Campbell, pictured left, the Reform UK candidate, won the election to become the first directly elected Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire. Councillor Hester Bridges, former deputy leader of Hull City Council, quit the Labour Party over its “morally indefensible” “silence” over Gaza. Sandy Smith won her battle not to be evicted from Hull almshouse The Charterhouse. Hull City Ladies were rocked by a fraud probe and legal action. And an exhibition by Jason Wilsher-Mills at Ferens Art Gallery won a global Museum and Heritage Award.
JUNE
Hull KR beat Warrington Wolves 8-6 in the Challenge Cup Final, the first time they had won the trophy in 45 years. We revealed that former Hull hairdresser Fiona ‘Fifi’ Tunnicliffe had undergone an assisted death in Canada. Sergej Jakirović, pictured, became Hull City’s fourth head coach in just over a year – and was set a target of a top ten finish in the Championship. And the iconic and award-winning visitor attraction The Deep welcomed its 10-millionth visitor since opening in 2002.
JULY
Hull City Supporters’ Trust called for “clarity” over the club’s finances after the Tigers were placed under a three-window transfer embargo. The Guildhall’s historic Time Ball, pictured, was taken down for repairs shortly after becoming operational again for the first time in 100 years. And Hull East Labour MP Karl Turner called on the Government to commit to the long-awaited rail electrification between Hull and Selby.
AUGUST
Music megastars Coldplay played two dates at Craven Park, supported by Hull’s Chiedu Oraka. Boxer turned businessman Tommy Coyle and Hull KR owner and solicitor Neil Hudgell were awarded the Freedom of the City. New Hull City signing Oli McBurnie scored a later winner in a 3-2 home victory over Oxford to give Sergej Jakirović his first win as head coach. The club’s transfer embargo was cut to two windows on appeal.
SEPTEMBER
Hull KR beat Warrington Wolves 28-20 in the last round of the regular Super League season, securing the League Leaders’ Shield to add to their Challenge Cup win in June. Frustration for motorists as we revealed Drypool Bridge, pictured, would close for up to two months for urgent repairs. Peter Mandelson was stripped of his title as High Steward of Hull over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. City councillor Peter North quit the Labour Party over the Government’s response to the far-right.
OCTOBER
An incredible achievement for Hull KR as the Robins smash Wigan Warriors 24-6 in the Super League Grand Final – completing an historic treble. Robert Bush, 47, pictured, former boss of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, pleaded guilty to 36 fraud offences at Hull Crown Court. He denied 31 other charges and is due to stand trial next year. A new city centre cultural event called Our City was announced. And Hull was named in the world’s top 25 visitor destinations by National Geographic.
NOVEMBER
The Viola Trust abandoned plans to bring historic trawler Viola home to Hull from the South Atlantic due to costs – but the disappointment was tempered by the creation of the Virtual Viola project, which the trust will gift to Hull Maritime. Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Evison says it will be “business as usual” until 2028 after the Government announced plans to scrap the PCC model. And Dastaar becomes the first Punjabi feature film to be made in Hull.
DECEMBER
Former Humberside Police chief constable Paul Anderson, pictured, was cleared of gross misconduct allegations after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). One man remains missing after two men entered the River Hull while fleeing from police. Human skeletal remains were found in a tent off Melwood Grove. And Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor Campbell appointed former Grimsby MP Lia Nici as his political adviser.