Forgot to post this on Friday Nothing to do with football More about our history as a City..... On the 22nd January 1974, The Gaul set sail from Hull for the last time. This poem is about her last hours here at home.... Dedicated to all those who have been lost at sea.... Nature can be both beautiful and cruel.... Gaul a last night’s memory. The bells at our Holy Trinity signal midnight’s next day hour upon these deserted streets there are no heart nor flower. Beginning at our estuary the Humber charts an ebb and flow those tides were waited high they will always run out slow. Over in St Andrews fish dock she waits under a winter’s moon January here at home high water will arrive too soon. Shadows lay their blanket on all corners, shed and shack it will cover every square on every inch and train track. Rolling slow and silently sea and salt lap along waterline stretching the mooring ropes releasing back in perfect time. The only sound is metal creaking as those winds cut like a sword in moving mirrors sees her reflection but as yet just silence aboard. My lady’s lines are there for all to see in this moon light Oh for a crowd to watch at this time she’s quite a sight. What were your last thoughts gently swaying here alone I watched you from the roadside freezing air was biting bone. When the dawn breaks open this dark unearthly time Thirty six will step onboard and release that thick rope line. You will slowly pull away from the safety of the dock bound for the Barents Sea first steer through St Andrews Lock. Heading up the waterway passing ships there tied aside out into open sea you’ll sail through waves no one could hide. A last look back is taken to remember home’s smell and sound then cutting through the wave and swell, and on to history the Crew and Gaul... are bound.
Great post. Thank you. My mother’s side of the family were Hessle road, my generation don’t appreciate just how lucky we are.
I can remember been at a city match with my dad and they had the minutes silence. Remember my dad explaining it to me.
My mother's side of the family were also hessle road,i was young at the time and i remember people stood outside the stricky arms waiting to hear news ,and the idiot who ran in one day saying they had found the Gaul.
I can't recall the specific club or comedian, but I heard of one that thought it would be funny to crack a 'gag' about it being found, and the supposed whereabouts of the crew in a club off Hessle Rd. Unfortunately for the comedian, the locals were not fully aware of the safe spaces or offence culture of modern times, and rather than post a tweet or on-line petition, dealt with them more directly.
I remember it well, I went to the "Gaul Ball at the City Hall" as a fund raiser, it as a great event and raised quite a lot of money for the families.
My ex landladies husband was on the Gaul, So many lives lost to the sea from brave men of Hull. . RIP.
A lad in my year at Kingston High school went down with the Gaul. To be absolutely honest I never liked him that much and I was kind of glad when he left at 16 to go to sea. However I'd never have wished this on him, if he was to reappear now I'd shake his hand and thank him for what he chose to do.