Hull Maritime Museum will host a book signing for the launch of An Illustrated History of The Port of Hull and its Railways, written by Mike G. Fell OBE on Tuesday 12 June from 1pm until 3pm.
This is the third Irwell Press book written by Mike G. Fell OBE on ports and railways having previously covered King’s Lynn and Goole. His latest book explores Hulls docks and their railways, describing and graphically illustrating the history of the Hull port and its railways from the opening of Queen’s Dock in 1778 until the present day.
Mike Fell, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, was in charge of the Port of Hull for sixteen years from 1987 until 2003 and previously was a stevedoring operations manager at the port for three years from 1977 to 1979.
One of the book’s chief aims is to dispel the widespread notion that Hull was only a fishing port. The fishing industry was once very important to the city of Hull but it actually formed only a small part of the port’s overall commercial activities. Hull’s success was founded on its ability to offer excellent facilities to larger ships which traded worldwide with a great variety of cargoes and the export of coal from South Yorkshire, all of which arrived by train.
Mike said: Hull is the largest and most important of the ports I have been associated with and it seems entirely appropriate that it should complete my trilogy. I hope the book will be a catalyst for others to research more detailed aspects of the ports past. I am very grateful to Hull City Council for making available the Hull Maritime Museum for the book launch. As the former headquarters of the Hull Dock Company, it was once the epicentre of the ports commercial activity and is a superb venue for the launch.”
Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, Chair of Hull Culture and Leisure Limited, said: We are delighted to host the launch of Mikes book and his latest work which focusses on such a vital part of Hulls Maritime past, present and future and are extremely grateful for the wonderful gesture of donating the profits from the sales of his book to help to promote and preserve Hulls maritime heritage.
This event in the Court Room is free and open to the public. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards promoting Hulls Maritime Heritage.
The book will be available from Wednesday 13 June at the Hull Maritime Museum shop and the Museums Quarter shop inside the Hull & East Riding Museum and costs £22.95.
The launch is being supported by the Hull: Yorkshires Maritime City project