Robb Robinson

Villefranche-sur-Mer, once HQ for US Sixth Fleet. A few years ago a large anchor recovered offshore was unveiled as a monument to the historic ties and friendship between US Navy sailors and local people. Made by W.L. Byers anchor manufacturers of Sunderland - their anchors used extensively in WW2.

They supplied anchors to the Royal Navy and also to ships across the world. Interestingly Byers

Byers marked anchors with swastikas as a sign of good luck long before it was adopted by the Nazis. Made the anchors for Mulberry Harbours (Normandy Landings). There is a Byers anchor from Ark Royal outside of the National Maritime Museum, another in the D-Day museum at Arromanches and other places.

Villefranche-sur-Mer, once HQ for US Sixth Fleet. A few years ago a large anchor recovered offshore was unveiled as a monument to the historic ties and friendship between US Navy sailors and local people. Made by W.L. Byers anchor manufacturers of Sunderland - their anchors used extensively in WW2.

From Edwardian North Sea trawler then Great War U-boat hunter to sub-Antarctic exploration vessel and witness to the Falklands War. Read the remarkable story of the people whose lives and livelihoods were tied up with this remarkable maritime survivor.

And more on the collaboration with the Glasgow School of Art research and digital reconstruction here. #Skystorians

From Edwardian North Sea trawler then Great War U-boat hunter to sub-Antarctic exploration vessel and witness to the Falklands War. Read the remarkable story of the people whose lives and livelihoods were tied up with this remarkable maritime survivor.

Skipper’s great-great-nephew ‘privileged and honoured’ by Viola celebration Philip Bennett presented with commemorative plaque at what felt like a ‘family reunion’

Good piece in the Hull Daily Mail about the former steam trawler Viola and the family of one of its skippers, Green Willows Tharratt, including the remarkable story of his 104 year old son Eric: www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/history...

Skipper’s great-great-nephew ‘privileged and honoured’ by Viola celebration Philip Bennett presented with commemorative plaque at what felt like a ‘family reunion’

Good piece in the Hull Daily Mail about the former steam trawler Viola and the family of one of its skippers, Green Willows Tharratt, including the remarkable story of his 104 year old son Eric: www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/history...

Did The First Professional Female Academic Come From Cottingham?

Dr Robb Robinson of the University of Hull heads to Cott to outline the life of an under sung local brainbox.

Supplementals: tinyurl.com/4kexa779

@hulllibraries.bsky.social
@uniofhull.bsky.social
@robb51.bsky.social

Did the first British professional female academic come from Cottingham? bsky.app/profile/robb...

Hull and the Greenland controversy. In 1605 Christian IV, King of Denmark and Norway, appointed Hull sailor James Hall as pilot on Greenland expedition to locate Viking colonies founded by Erik the Red c1000 AD. Contact had been lost c1500. Made three voyages for King Christian to Greenland. His map

King James I of England had recommended John Hall to his brother in law King Christian IV. As pilot he seems to have been paid more than the captains of the ships.

Hall made a further Greenland voyage in 1612 looking for silver, underwritten by London merchants. He was killed by an inuit spear and Captain Andrew Barker, Elder Brethren of Hull Trinity House brought the ships back.

Hull and the Greenland controversy. In 1605 Christian IV, King of Denmark and Norway, appointed Hull sailor James Hall as pilot on Greenland expedition to locate Viking colonies founded by Erik the Red c1000 AD. Contact had been lost c1500. Made three voyages for King Christian to Greenland. His map

What happened to the line to Hull in all this?

Which Eminent Green Victorian Came From Cottingham?

Dr Robb Robinson of University of Hull outlines the short but fascinating life of a true ecological pioneer.

Supplementals: tinyurl.com/ytcrfh7c

@hulllibraries.bsky.social
@uniofhull.bsky.social
@robb51.bsky.social

Fishing News article on how we worked with Glasgow School of Art to create a virtual Viola. The ship, which is still around, now beached at Grytviken, South Georgia, had an epic career and whilst on Admiralty service had many engagements with enemy U-boats and was directly involved in two sinkings.

John Ellerton Stocks: Green Victorian. Collected plants across Indian Sub-Continent, once Keeper of Forests of Sind, posited the idea that clearing forests affected climate. Died, back home in Cottingham, aged 34; buried in churchyard but what a short life he lived.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yv-...

YouTube video by Curiosity Hull Which Eminent Green Victorian Came From Cottingham? Dr Robb Robinson

John Ellerton Stocks a Green Victorian. Travelled across Indian Sub-Continent, once Keeper of the Forests of Sind, posited the idea that clearing forests could affect climate. Died, back home in Cottingham, aged 34 and buried in churchyard. What a short life he lived.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yv-...

Hull-built anti-seasickness ship was plagued with misfortune The Hull-built SS Bessemer was designed by a Victorian inventor to counteract seasickness.

Contributed to this BBC piece about the short career of the SS Bessemer, the ship built by Earles of Hull with a moving cabin designed to alleviate seasickness. At the end the ship was taken back down south again to be broken up on the River Thames. Have a look here: www.bbc.com/news/article...

Hull-built anti-seasickness ship was plagued with misfortune The Hull-built SS Bessemer was designed by a Victorian inventor to counteract seasickness.

Contributed to this BBC piece about the short career of the SS Bessemer, the ship built by Earles of Hull with a moving cabin designed to alleviate seasickness. At the end the ship was taken back down south again to be broken up on the River Thames. Have a look here: www.bbc.com/news/article...

Sad news. Death of Brian Cooke, epic runner and effervescent character. One of those who really established northern road running in 1950s. Formerly a Hull Harrier then Haltemprice Road Runners. Won many events including the SLH 30 Mile Road Race in 2hrs 52. Ran for England; represented Yorkshire.

Sad news. Death of Brian Cooke, epic runner and effervescent character. One of those who really established northern road running in 1950s. Formerly a Hull Harrier then Haltemprice Road Runners. Won many events including the SLH 30 Mile Road Race in 2hrs 52. Ran for England; represented Yorkshire.

Historic trawler marks 120 th anniversary with starring role in maritime heritage films Historic trawler marks 120 th anniversary with starring role in maritime heritage films

Another take on the launch of the Virtual Viola. This little ship was on the maritime front line in the Great War for more than four years and had numerous encounters with U-boats, being involved in sinking two of them and is still around: justbeverley.co.uk/articles/his...

Communities unite to watch Viola’s starring role in maritime heritage films — The Hull Story By Simon Bristow , Co-Editor Supporters of a campaign to celebrate the exploits of an historic trawler marked a high-tech twist in the story by setting up a video link to connect the vessel’s home i...

www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/...

Find out more about the remarkable career of the Viola - and the men and women whose lives and livelihoods were tied up with this vessel - here

Communities unite to watch Viola’s starring role in maritime heritage films — The Hull Story By Simon Bristow , Co-Editor Supporters of a campaign to celebrate the exploits of an historic trawler marked a high-tech twist in the story by setting up a video link to connect the vessel’s home i...

www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/...

See them in full colour in Beverley in the film 'Lease of Life' starring Robert Donat (1954).

This year marks 200th anniversary of 'Dendrologia Britannica, or trees and shrubs that will live in the open air of Britain, throughout the year' by Peter William Watson of Thwaite Street, Cottingham. Copy of beautifully illustrated book in Hull History Centre. Epitome of 19th cent. green Georgian.