Flags flying high to mark 30 years of Grimsby’s Fishing Heritage Centre

A special series of flags and windsocks have been rigged for the anniversary of the Fishing Heritage Centre on Tuesday 22 June.

The special event complemented the re-opening of the Garth Lane site which took place earlier today.

The flag commission has been created by outdoor arts company Walk the Plank along with designer Sean Rodwell and flag consultant, Wendy Meadley.

Sean Rodwell, from Walt, used to work with Whitaker Advertising on the docks, who were responsible for the initial graphic designs for the centre when it was first opened 30 years ago.

“I’m born and bred a Meggie,” said Sean, “I was involved in the graphic designs for the FHC when it was first opened, so jumped at the chance to get involved in this project – it was a lovely throwback to those times! It was also a great opportunity for me to give something back to the area I love.”

There are 13 specially created flags which, in the nautical alphabet, spell out “Grimsby”, with morse code on the bottom spelling out “History”. The flags start at the new Garth Lane Bridge and run to the Fishing Heritage Centre.

In additional to this new commission, the Ross Tiger’s own nautical flags have been rigged on the boat, and Wendy Meadley, another flag artist, will curate a second set of signal intent flags and windsocks near the ship.

The flags are the first cultural element of the recently announced Festival of the Sea, and will be erected again in July for the festival.

Funding for the flags was secured by the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre earlier this year from the Culture Recovery Fund.

For more information about the Festival, visit the Festival of the Sea website www.festivaloftheseagrimsby.co.uk and follow the social media channels @festivalofsea on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all programme announcements.