My family are involved in fishing. My brother is a fisherman, he left school at 16 and went to sea. My sister’s husband’s dad owned a boat, it’s in the family the fishing I guess. Me granddad was a fisherman and my younger brother wants to go to fishing too. But it’s not for me. Me Mam says I wouldn’t want to get me hands dirty! I think some people think that going fishing is a fashionable thing, it’s a good job and people earn good money. I think girls think it as a romantic thing, because it’s man’s job. The blokes go away and come back and treat the women.
I feel comfortable in this area. I’m a gay man. Everyone is more accepting, I was brought up here, no one gives a shit, they just get on with things. It’s an area of everyone. Prostitutes, different cultures from different countries. It’s a dock area. Every day is different and it’s never dull. There are so many characters and some think it’s behind the times. I like it’s not been cleaned up because it’s just a normal place.
I love horses too and that comes from living here and seeing the horses. Be that the Rag and Bone or the families with them. Horses are a big part of Hessle Road too, the horse fair at Dairycoates. I love animals. So I was really affected by seeing them when I was growing up. I like going to the races and riding too.
Hull Fair is really important to me and my friends and family. My Nana read fortunes at the fair. When we were kids, my mum made sure we always had new clothes for the fair and new jackets. We were always dressed up – in a style that would be called traveller style now. Everyone saved money to do it. Also there was silver cross prams – they are a statement. It’s a tradition of who we are in this community. It comes from having self-respect. Wherever we went we always had to look clean and dressed nice, and walk nice and be polite.
This area is and was full of glamorous women that like to look good and enjoy it. It’s not chavvy. You have to think you never know who you are going to see. And we know everyone, so you will always see someone. Its about first impressions. Some people think it about Sunday best – making a statement or standing out, but we are not fur coat and no knickers. I dress nice on all days. I like to look and smell nice.
People also judge this area and make fun, but they don’t stay here, or live here or know it. They think it’s rough and full of prostitutes and Romanians and begging. There’s a way of going on here that’s unique and it’s people trying to make a living and people trying to live for less money. Everyone will try and help you out and everyone lends cash to help. In other places they would call you out if you haven’t got enough money, but here they understand. Its friendly and understanding. But it’s also tough, if you fall over they won’t put a plaster on, they will tell you to get up and get on with it.
