Went to New Theatre last night to see Son of a Preacher Man with Mrs Tash and the Askews Good fun Slightly confused about the new set up though. You all go in through the new entrance but it felt a bit of a squeeze as there was people picking up tickets from a booth in the corner as well as queues for the bar etc Seems a bit of a waste of the big space in the old entrance, that might have been better to use for ticket collections at least Acceptable beer selection
After the ceremony at the Cenotaph I made my way to the bus station (Interchange) for my bus, lo and behold a jazz band was playing outside of Centre/Station/Mecure (pick 1 from 3) hotel in the train station concourse. I'm not much of a jazz fan but these guys were good, dressed in tux and Dickie bow ties the singer was great and was backed by some good musicians. Not only that lots of people, of all ages, were dancing, jitter bug? to the band all dressed from a bygone age, 40's/50's I would think. The dancers were of all ages and obviously all from a club or organisation that specialises in this theme. Also there were children, again various ages, mostly around the 5 to 10 age, carrying old suitcases, teddy bears and other stuff and I can only imagine that they were re-enacting the plight of the persecuted Jews who fled Europe and passed through Paragon Station, after document verification at what is now Tigers Lair, on to Liverpool and their final destination the USA. I didn't stay until the very end but the jazz did sound good in that train station, the acoustics were very good.
We stopped at the food van outside station .nice bacon sarny. The sign on the van says, the staff are ugly but the food is beautiful!!!
Hundreds of thousands passed through the docks, then onto Paragon on route to Liverpool and eventually the United states. It is part of the city's history which receives very little coverage, in contrast to Ellis Island in New York harbour where many of them would have ended up. I think HCC have missed a trick here in not creating a museum. Can't say I am surprised by that!!
Micheal Portillo mentioned it on that programme he did travelling around following Bradshaw's guide. That platform the refugee trains departed onwas the second longest in the country at the time apparently. Remember seeing something about it in another series, can't remember which one though, when the presenter got talking to someone who was a retired American who said he was here because his dad told him of the kindness shown by Hull people after knowing nothing but hatred in Europe (his dad came through Hull as a young man with his parents before the war) and he had always said to himself he would visit one day to see the place whose inhabitants his dad had spoken so well of.
it was a piece by tenfoot dance company called "the way we were", that paid tribute to hull's unity during world war 2. hence it starting after the ceremony at the cenotaph, on november the 11th, with people dressed in 40's costumes, and children on a train station leaving with suitcases being evacuated. they did it last year as well. great to watch and listen to.
I went back today Joe and had a chance to read the posters on the 'Poppy' wall around the refurbishments to the station, something I didn't get a chance too yesterday just too many people passing though or stopping to watch the dancing. All is explained on the posters along with a lot of other war history.
Anyone go to the Pat Metheny concert last weekend? I'm a bit of a fan but couldn't make it this time. Funnily enough I watched a Pat Metheny 'tribute band' in my local jazz club last week.
I popped my head in the peoples memorial in whitefriargate after paying my respects at the cenotaph today. They've done a right good job in the new museum bit, to say the staff are enthusiastic is an understatement, but very friendly and knowledgeable. I can get all my grandfather's war records in there for £30 and check the 1911 census, if any family (or spouses) who where in the war are still alive checks are free !
Satdee's parade was a good one from what I saw. The kid was dancing away in her own world before making run for it, so couldn't fully take it all in. please log in to view this image http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-41943613
As we approach the end of the City of Culture year, it's a shame we couldn't have found someone a little more high profile than the local mayor to turn on the Christmas lights.
Well, we're family friends with them so if the Council had put in a call I'm sure we could have got them up!!!
I thought it was always the mayor (although they do sometimes dredge the z list for a sidekick!) ...anyway it’s not culture it’s Christmas...and it shouldn’t be properly celebrated in November regardless of how celebrated the turner onner is!
