On 17th July 1882, deckhand John Fryer, 18, was lost overboard from Hull trawler Superb in the North Sea.
On 17th July 1930, Amy Johnson sent a telegram to Ethel Leginska congratulating her on her brilliant pioneer achievement in conducting the Carl Rosa Opera Company’s production of Madame Butterfly in London.
On 19th June 1256, the Meaux Abbey chronicler reported losing men and oxen at Orwithfleet, south of Patrington. A major flood of the Humber reached as far north as Cottingham, with many lives lost, livestock and fisheries devastated, and land washed into the river.
On 19th June 1607, Thomas Wincop, Master of Hull Charterhouse, bought, with Hull Mayor George Almond and other trustees, land in Haltemprice Wood abutting on the common fields of Willerby, to support the running costs; the Charterhouse already owned substantial property in and around Hull. photo shows Wincop’s memorial in Hull Minster.
On 19th June 1837, Hull Steam Packet Company launched the paddle steamer Victoria at Medley’s shipyard, Hull; she was considered state of the art. A boiler explosion in 1838 killed 5 crew; there was a second explosion the same year; she ran onto rocks in 1852 and was wrecked, with 8 people killed.
On the same day, Rev Joseph Coltman died in Beverley at the age of 60. He was known for his support of local charities, of the emancipation of Catholics, and of the abolition of slavery. Born in Hull, Coltman Street was named for him, as was Beverley’s Coltman Avenue. At 37 stone 8lbs, he was reputed to be the heaviest man in England, and his death may have been caused by his weight. He employed a manservant to turn him in bed, but he fell asleep and Coltman suffocated in his sleep.
On 19th June 1887, to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, a state service was held in Holy Trinity church, Hull, the new Market Hall was opened, as was East Park, and there were festivities in all the city’s wards.
On 19th June 1920, Harry Wilkinson of Lower Union Street, Hull, was seriously injured by 3 gunshots. He was part of a mob of white people who attacked and damaged several boarding houses where black seamen lived. Tom Toby, a West African fireman, was charged with wounding, but no white people were arrested. Toby’s plea of self defence was accepted, and he was found not guilty. During the same rioting, Murrell Piggott, faced with a 200-strong crowd, had also fired, but his plea of self defence was not accepted, and he was sentenced to 9 months’ hard labour for unlawful wounding.
On 19th June 1940, the East Hull, docks, suburbs, and River Hull corridor experienced the first night-time raid of World War 2.
On 11th June 1312, a miracle was recorded when some boys whose sight was failing had their eyes smeared with oil which flowed from the tomb of St John of Beverley. Their sight then began to improve.
On 11th June 1909, the Hornsea Golf Club officially opened; a large gathering of golfers from Hull, Leeds, Doncaster, Scarborough, Beverley and Bridlington took part in various competitions.
On 11th June 1925, John Ball, 17, deckhand of Michael St, Hull, was lost overboard from Hull trawler Wheatstone 182 miles ExN of Spurn.
On 9th June 1786, a servant of Rev George Lambert of Hull gave notice that she was leaving after living with the family for 15 years, to live with a sailor who had recently sold his wife to another man. Most people considered this equivalent to divorce, although it had no status in law.
On 9th June 1888, a water spout in Langtoft sucked up mud and stones, and removed the soil from gardens, leaving bare chalk, as it moved across the local valleys. When it was halted by a steep hill, it deposited debris to the depth of 7 feet.
On 9th June 1965, Leslie Anthony Wegg was born in Hedon Road Maternity Hospital, Hull, with a full caul. A fisherman’s son, it was kept as a precious possession, despite a £100 offer to buy it. (from Eric Gill’s book “Superstitions’)
On 31st May 1902, Hornsea residents celebrated the end of the Boer War, with an impromptu service held at the Parish Church at 10p.m., followed by a procession around the town, with people singing and waving flags, while others let off fireworks. This may have included Hornsea Brass Band, which existed until WW1.
On 31st May 1905, Teddy Gudmensen, 33, deckhand, was lost overboard from Hull trawler Swan 93 miles NE of Spurn.
On 31st May 1916, Alfred Dean, stoker 1st class and former Reckitt’s employee, was drowned while serving on HMS Invincible in the Battle of Jutland.
photo shows the Services memorial, East Park, Hull.
On 27th May 1915, Thomas Ellis, 29, skipper of Boulevard, Hull, was lost with all hands when Hull trawler Southward Ho went down due to enemy action 88 miles E x N of Spurn.
On 27th May 1958, Rail engine D49 62703 fell into the turntable pit at Bridlington and had to be recovered by crane.
On 26th May 1492, William Gypson, labourer, of Holme on Spalding Moor, claimed sanctuary at the church of St John, Beverley, to avoid (or delay) being pursued for debt.
On 26th May 1711, Leven carpenter Thomas Newton claimed the right to raise funds from his neighbours when his shop was destroyed by a fire which started in Matthew Borman’s blacksmith shop next door.
On 26th May 1787, the Royal Navy purchased the collier Bethia, built 3 years earlier at the Blaydes shipyard in High Street, Hull. Renamed the Bounty, it was refitted and equipped for a trip to Tahiti under Captain William Bligh. photo shows a model of the ship in Blaydes House.
On 26th May 1872, David Walker, aged 19, burgled the house of Henry Robinson in Carnaby and was sentenced to 5 years penal servitude, i.e. imprisonment with hard labour.
On 26th May 1929, Lilian Bilocca was born in Hull. She campaigned for safety improvements to trawlers after the Triple Trawler Disaster. (died 1988)
On 26th May 1946, Mick Ronson was born in Hull. Musician, songwriter, arranger, producer, member of Bowie’s Spiders from Mars. (died 29.4.1993)
On 15th May 1498, Robert Barker of Wistow, near Selby claimed sanctuary at Beverley’s church of St John, for the murder of John Towree at Wistow on 9th May.
On 15th May 1591, priest Robert Thorpe, and Thomas Watkinson were executed at York – Thorpe being hanged, drawn and quartered for treason, and Watkinson hanged as a felon for harbouring priests. Both were arrested at Menthorpe on Palm Sunday, when neighbours saw palms being taken into Watkinson’s house, by the local magistrate John Gates.
On 15th May 1613, Lady Grissell Clifford, Countess of Cumberland, died, aged 54 at Londesborough. She appears to have been generous to the local poor, and almost the entire female populations of Londesborough and Shipton attended her funeral. Memorial in Londesbrough church.
On 15th May 1618, Phillip Constable of Wassand Hall was killed in a duel at White Cross, Leven, by Edmund (or Edward) Percy. Constable buried in Goxhill. Difficult to verify any details, except that Philip Constable died in 1618, and that duels were considered a foreign introduction at the time.
On 15th May 1896, a temporary dam created during building work for the Fish Dock extension, Hull, burst, and the sudden rush of water smashed and sank the fishing smack Young Greg.
On 15th May 1951, motor mechanic Edward Slaughter, of the Flambrough lifeboat crew, was awarded an RNLI bronze medal and Mrs Porter’s Award (given annually for the bravest deed of the year by a lifeboat man). A boy was badly injured falling 150 feet from the Flambrough cliffs, and E.S. swam to him, got him on to a stretcher and guided the stretcher to the cliff top.
On 14th May 1595, George Wharton, 12, left Londesborough to work at Gray’s Inn, London for 9 months; he then became a student at Caius College, Cambridge. His mother had died 3 years before, since when he had lived with his uncle, the Earl of Cumberland, at Londesborough. He never succeeded to the title, as he died in a duel aged 24.
On 14th May 1917, James Smith, 30, chief engineer of the Hull trawler Bel Lilly, was lost with all hands North East of Peterhead due to enemy action.
On 14th May 1941, Hull Municipal Kitchens ended a week in which they had served 350k meals, after Hull’s worst bombing, and this despite the destruction of all stocks of food delivered by the Ministry of Food, and of a number of Emergency Feeding Centres.
Hull & East Yorkshire History Calendar 