We are, apparently, the UK’s City of Freedom. A made-up term if ever I heard one, but the sentiment is there.
It all links, of course, to Hull’s most famous son – William Wilberforce – and we’re celebrating the 250th anniversary of his birth this year as part of the Freedom Festival.
There are talks of a new passenger cruise terminal at the Port of Hull. Talk about any port in a storm.
As the Yorkshire Post questions, what exactly does the Humber have in common with the Caribbean? Hmm… Errm… Tropical fish?
Still, the article does list why Hull could be a pretty effective port of call – it has the capacity, Hull is central on the east coast with “a catchment area of 40 million people within four hour’s drive”, and it’s a ‘gateway’ to the very beautiful Yorkshire.
With the summer predicted to be a scorcher, where do most people want to be?
The beach, of course.
Although perhaps not your first thought for a weekend away or a mini break, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) are working their socks off to promote our beautiful coastline and this area as the place-to-be this summer.
I love reading about a story and seeing someone trying to make good if it (and for once it doesn’t involve MP expenses)
In fact, its rather close to home – an island in the River Ouse near Goole that is up for sale.
For anyone who reads this blog regularly, or looks at the archived posts, I always try and follow up on stories I’ve blogged about before. Call it tying up loose ends or being like a dog with a bone, I like to plot progress. Especially when it comes to Hull.
This article about Hull City Council amused me on the BBC’s news website
“People asked to criticise council”
“Hull council is appealing for people to volunteer to criticise its councillors and policies.”
I had a little chuckle as given attitudes towards Councils in general, and specifically Hull’s, I can’t see it would be difficult to round up enough people to help.
I simply couldn’t believe it that Newcastle United pulled that result out of the bag last night. I just never seriously thought they would do it and was banking on a 1-1 draw.
So, Hull City’s fate now rests on Bolton, oh, and Man Utd winning the title before they play us so that Ferguson fields a baby team for the last match.
Predictions?
It’s not looking good….
I’m banging a particular drum again this week, about how we always seem to be at the bottom of league tables, surveys and labelled as the “worst place to live”
I came across Country Life magazine earlier this week, which has ranked East Yorkshire as the worse country in England. They compiled a list of the 40 counties and rated them from the best (Devon) to the worst (us), and then put everyone else somewhere in between.
Analysis from The Work Foundation has revealed which areas are suffering the most from rising unemployment during the recession – and yes, you’ve guessed it – Hull has been hit badly.
The stats show the largest rises in the number of people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance (outside of London) and Hull is actually fifth in the top ten cities to be suffering, with the jobless increasing from 8062 in Feb 08 to 13366 in Feb 09.
As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, stats are notoriously difficult to believe, let alone the spin that surrounds them.
However, even I couldn’t quite believe the following two articles which appeared on the Hull Daily Mail’s website:
Article 1, featured online on Tues 7th April
