ALEC Gill's photographic exhibition, Hessle Roaders, presents an unashamedly honest flashback to the golden age of Hull’s fishing community, on show in Hull Truck Theatre's upper foyer until November 18.
Cherry-picked from his larger Hessle Roaders shows at Hull History Centre and St John the Baptist Church, the display of 24 black-and-white images coincides with the Hull Truck and Hull UK City of Culture 2017 production of The Last Testament Of Lillian Bilocca, Maxine Peake's tribute to Hull’s trawler safety campaigner.
Gill's photographs depict everything from dockworkers and three-day millionaires, to the mothers and children that filled Hessle Road’s streets with working-class character.
Alec Gill photographing on Hessle Road with his 35mm Olympus camera on November 5 1985. "I see myself more as a psychologist with a camera than a photographer," he says.
Over 15 years, during the 1970s and 1980s, Gill built up more than 6,600 negatives to document the freedom that came so naturally to Hessle Road and its inhabitants. He also became an author and video producer during this time, changing his techniques as the technology developed. The collection of images complemented and helped to shape Gill’s career as a historian and visual storyteller, capturing forever a unique and pragmatic way of life.
While the photographs show how the streets, buildings and skyline have transformed over the years, their main purpose is to highlight the inherent culture of Hull and its dynamic fishing heritage.
Four MARR Fish Factory Girls at Victoria Fisheries' fish and chip shop on March 21 1978, by Alec Gill
"Hessle Road is the spinal cord that ran through Hull’s deep-sea fishing community," says Gill. "I see myself more as a psychologist with a camera than a photographer. The people there lived both a magic and tragic life; magic in the sense that of all seafarers, none were more superstitious than fishermen. Tragic in that Arctic trawling was the most perilous job in the world."
Despite his vast portfolio, Gill never sought funding for his photographic work. However, for Hull’s year as UK City of Culture 2017, Hull's global medical technology business Smith & Nephew has sponsored the exhibition: a fitting gesture from a company that has been a Hessle Road employer since 1907.
The 24 images represent the essence of Hull Truck and Hull UK City of Culture's production of The Last Testament Of Lillian Bilocca, staged from November 3 to 18 in a promenade performance at the Guildhall with live music by folk musicians Adrian McNally and Rachel and Becky Unthank. Apparently tickets sold out in two hours, but you can chance your arm on ringing the box office on 01482 323638 for any returns
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