Hundreds join Headscarf Hustle across the Humber Bridge

BBC News

10-03-2025

Four-hundred fundraisers in headscarves crossed the Humber Bridge on Sunday to raise money for a statue to honour four pioneering women from Hull. The Headscarf Revolutionaries fought to improve safety in the fishing industry following the Triple Trawler Tragedy of 1968.The four-mile walk or run across the bridge was in its second year, with entries doubling this time around.Organiser Sam Barlow, of the charity Fitmums & Friends, said she was "absolutely delighted" with the turnout for a "very important" cause.
She said: "We doubled our entries from last year and we sold out in advance of the event. "So it just shows you that people are passionate about the cause and passionate about coming together." In 1968, 58 men lost their lives at sea when, in quick succession, the Hull trawlers St Romanus, Kingston Peridot and Ross Cleveland went down with only a sole survivor, Harry Eddom.
The "triple trawler tragedy" resulted in a campaign led by Lillian Bilocca, Christine Smallbone, later known as Christine Jensen, Mary Denness and Yvonne Blenkinsop, who became known as the Headscarf Revolutionaries.They established the Fisherman's Charter, which was a demand for better safety standards in the fishing industry, such as a radio operator on every ship, better safety equipment and improved training.
Fitmums & Friends hosted the event in partnership with Curly's Athletes.Councillor Tracey Henry, who chairs the Headscarf Revolutionaries Statue Group, also took part.She said the statue could cost about £250,000 to build, but the group was beginning to look at potential locations in the city centre."These ladies still tell a story now and will do into the future," she said. "It's about making sure these ladies are seen, they're heard and never ever forgotten."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.