final PDF for ISSUU EofUS Issue 5

US

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EOFUS.CO.UK @EOFUSHU3

EVERYONE HERE LOOKS OUT FOR EACH OTHER... WE''VE GOT HEARTS OF GOLD Rachel

JULY 2025 RESPECT// KNOWLEDGE// DIFFERENCE//

FREE

THEY ONLY REPORT BAD THINGS NOT THE GOOD. NO IT'S NOT PERFECT HERE, BUT THERE IS COMMUNITY. IT’S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM Tommy

On the 14th of July 2025, Andrea Gibson, a beautiful soul and Colorado’s Poet Laureat, left the world.

What does that have to do with HU3? Well reading some of her recent words from the other side of the pond, brought HU3 to mind.

2 @EOFUSHU3

A recent newspaper article claiming Hessle Road was Britain’s most dangerous place to live, understandably provoked some strong response. Though we are no experts, it doesn’t take much digging to see that the desire for clicks drove this headline more than the actual truth. That is not to say that Hessle Road and HU3 doesn’t have its challenges.

And it’s not to diminish the experiences of people who are on the receiving end of them. What that kind of reporting rarely does though, is show that many truths, many experiences, many realities, are all possible…all at the same time. The dry statistics for HU3 are not flattering…but those statistics gaze through a narrow lens that misses everything else.

Imagine, if you will, a wildlife survey that looks only for the European Common Frog. Lovely as the frog is (we have nothing against frogs), the survey would miss the Pygmy Shrew, the Vineyard Snail, the Goldfinch, the Cinnabar Moth…the Bank Vole, the Red Admiral, the Great Spotted Woodpecker and the Seven Spotted Lady Beetle. What a loss.

EofUs never had any problems seeing that bigger, more beautifully diverse landscape in HU3 because a) we looked

and b) it’s really not hard to find. In response to the news article, Emma Hardy MP said of the community meeting that took place, ‘One clear takeaway from our discussion was the shared belief that the recent article did not accurately reflect the reality of the Hessle Road area. There is so much to celebrate here: thriving local businesses, a strong sense of community, and many positive initiatives already making a difference.’ Too right.

And what were the words of Andrea Gibson that reminded us of HU3? ‘Here’s to our tenacity, courage, and strength, friend.

I know so much feels heavy right now. It is heavy. But never forget that our hearts are community gardens. I think we’ll all start seeing how much we have on our side once we each begin to see how much we have to give.’

The hearts of HU3 people are like community gardens… they do have so much to give, and they willingly give it. If you think of this newspaper as just a small survey…not for frogs but for tenacity, courage and strength…as well as love, kindness and creativity…then the lightness, to ease the heavy, is clear to see.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

HELLO AGAIN AND WELCOME ALL This is the fifth issue of Encyclopedia of Us, which focuses on Respect, Knowledge and Difference. EofUs is a newspaper like no other. What makes this newspaper so different? EofUs is written and produced by people living in HU3. We invite everyone to be part of it.

YOU CAN

The map on the next page locates the source of the articles. Almost every article is accompanied by an invitation to act, be it a small act for you and your family to enjoy, or a bigger act that contributes to this community. These are called a You Can, so keep an eye out.

Also you’ll also see signs for a You Did, and these

YOU show some of the things that happen because of the activities and connections that take place DID inconversations, the making of this paper.

Helping to do all this is...

Kate Genever. Some of you will have already met her… and others surely will. She has a knack of seeing what's hidden, interesting, challenging and beautiful and she is out and about on the streets.

Three Ways East an arts and culture company that provides the backup support and does the fundraising.

The Editorial Advisory Group [EAG]. This changes every time, to involve the people contributing to each paper. If you would like to join the EAG get in touch. You don’t have to have done anything like this before and we will find a way to make it work for you.

THE EAG FOR THIS EDITION IS:

Kate Genever, Deborah Munt, Clare Huby, Amanda Rigby / Paper Rhino, Thomas Robinson, Layla Jabbari, Jim Greenhalg, George Norris, Alex Kalogerakis, Hull and East Yorkshire Nature Partnership, East Riding Libraries , East Riding Council, Adam Hawley, Ruby Deverell, Tony Ward, Gloria Ward, Bobby Mandrell, The Dreamgirls, Bryan/Fanny, Issac Acheampong, Rachel Waterhouse, Hayley, Natasha, Vicky, Aysa, Maryann, Aliina, Tsega, Amara, Maka, Zaynab, Meg, Martin, English Department at Boulevard Academy, Chiltern Primary School, HU3 Come to Tea volunteers, Jodi and Groundwork sewing crew, Zivarna Murphy, Elizabeth, Hassatu, Lisa, Rachel, Nirmala, Maka, Dawn, Sam, Maryan, Alice, Nirmala, Ruta, Gill Poole, Alex Costin, J, Stephen and Arlene, Carl, Angie, John, Tony, Mike, Heather and Jan, Louis aka Mike Sprout, Ollie, Carla Mellor, Dave, Jade.

GET INVOLVED!

YOU CAN

One way or another we want to hear from you... so whether you contact us or we find you... we look forward to meeting you Website: eofus.co.uk Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @EofUsHU3 Email: hello@eofus.co.uk Don't do technology? Drop your thoughts in at Top Color, Hessle Road

DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT

Contributions of thoughts, ideas and creative works are always welcome and are accepted as being the original work of the person supplying them. If you are contributing things on behalf of someone else, or work created by someone else, please make sure you have their permission and let us know how they wish to be credited. We only record and process personal information in order to credit contributions to the EofUs and keep you up to date with the project (if you wish). We do not share any of your personal information with third parties without your permission.

Printed by Mortons Print Ltd, Morton Way, Boston Road Industrial Estate, Horncastle, LN9 6JR

Kindly supported by: JF Brignall Charitable Trust

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CONTENTS SPRING

BANK

HULL FAIR

6 FABRIC OF LIFE

8

Celebrating HU3 fabric stories and heritages

8 HUFREE GALLERY

The brand new gallery in HU3 with a photography focus The people behind the books

11 MINI MALARKY

6

Fabulous news for families!

WE ST

DA L E LONS UNIT Y COMMTRE CEN

12 WESTERN LIBRARY

WALTON STREET MARKET

UR

ST

SE

Y LB

BIKE PROJECT

.

ST

ORTS

OPE

ELL ST ED

ST.

LST

D STE

WEL

.

S BO Y E

BILLRDS BOA

ARD LEV BOU RS LLE EWE CE DS J OFFI POST

D HER I NG FISH TRE CEN

35 LONG SERVICE

34 HU3 HEALTH SERVICE

36 HAND FORMED

E

FE 'S CA

E EMB

K ST.

ITAG

PER

AFE NUT C

ERS

CHOP

RAYN

THIS PLACE MINI STORE

32 RENEWED SERVICE

Health checks with Dawn and Sam

OSC

AL-SALAMAN MOSQUE

Y HIR

ION R

COCO

DOC WEST

St Matthew's gets more than a make over

GIR

GIROSCOP

46 W

HENR

DIVIS

KES ADCA BRE ALORE G

E

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West Hull community hub with more than a warm welcome

HOUS

Bobby Mandrell by Tony Ward

32 HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

DOVE

20 PULL OUT POSTER

EofUs unearths hidden histories

GREGGS

NCE

EofUs unearths hidden histories

31 SCENE BUT NOT HEARD CTD.

ASDA

AW RE

18 SCENE BUT NOT HEARD

MALTBYS

HALFWAY INN

L AEL

A personal mission for a national impact

14

HESSLE RD.

BEECROFT COURT

MICH

16 MATTHEW'S HUB

H

ST.

ST.

15 STORIES OF STORAGE WITH THE AIMLESS ARCHIVE

NC BE

GOW

ORGE

Adventures with the Walk/ Talk gang

DAIRY COATS PUB

MAI

14 WALK AND TALK

NONG

18

NEWINGTON ACADEM Y

.

GS

GLAS

E ST. G

THE FOUNTAIN

SCRAPSTORE

T. OCK S

QUAKERS

ATE NSG

BOULEVARD ACADEM Y

CHILTERN PRIMARY

WOODC

E QUE

ST MATTHEWS CHURCH

KI N

W.A.N.T. CONQUEST OF BREAD

BUDDHIST CENTRE

N ST TMA COL

H ART

THE MADRAS

DOVEE HOUS

JOHN FORD

PA RK

HALM

SHAW

ST. TON GOUL

In print with Richardsons 72 years and going strong Local clay with a surprising twist

S

38 WHO IS FREE?

41

Spotlight on Isaac Acheampong

40 DO YOU KNOW THE PRICE OF FISH?

HOSPITAL

ANLABY R

An old find emerges D.

WEST PARK PALACE

40 BACK TO OURS

Throughout the paper look out for the lovely FREE You Cans on offer. Here are few of the highlights.

A huge thank you to the generosity of HU3 people who have contributed. Why not join in?

THE KIDS' BIT

FREE! Book by emailing

hello@eofus.co.uk or message Kate on 07713 647 715

6 CREATE A PATTERN

Design a pattern personal to you When: 6 November, 10am Where: Chiltern Community Hub

FOR KIDS AGED 0 - 100

» »

8 COOK & SHARE

22 THE FUN BIT

We all love a word search, maybe even a joke or two

This month will focus on autumn and Halloween When: 7 November, 4pm Where: Rayners Pub

Boulevard Academy Students share their cultures

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The HU3/ Bransholme link

11 GALLERY TOUR

41 HU3 COME TO TEA

Highlights from last years festival with a difference

Join EofUs to explore Alex Kalogerakis' exhibition When: 29 November, 11.30 Where: HuFree Gallery, Western Library

44 GRAF IT!

12 MINI MALARKEY FESTIVAL

45 GRAF TRAIL

Can you find them all?

46 PLATTERS RYDERS

» »

8 FLOWER CLUB

23 BOULEVARD’S BEST BITS

» »

A community mural makes it mark

PE

Cook a favourite dish to share When: 9 October, 2pm Where: Chiltern Community Hub

Giant plates for chippy teas!

47 WE DID HENNA

A story of getting involved TOP COLOR

48 SUNSHINE

A poem by Carla Mellor

44

Get involved in lots of free creative workshops When: 11 - 23 August Where: Western Library

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14 WALK & TALK

23

Walk to Western Library, HUFree Gallery and the Mermaid When: 25 September, 10am start Where: Chiltern Community Hub

» »

32 POTTERY WORKSHOP

24 SPEAK OUT!

Have a go at pottery with Zivarna Murphy When: 11 October, 11am Where: Western Library Garden

Yr 9 and 10 English Students from Boulevard Academy get passionate

26 EVERYONE IS UNIQUE NO MATTER WHAT

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31 DRAGAVANZA

26

Chiltern Primary School support Neurodiversity Week

28 COLOURING-IN

Be inspired by this West African fabric. What colours will you choose?

Follow us on Instagram @EofUsHU3

Join Bobby Mandrell, The Dreamgirls, and others When: 9 August, 4pm till late Where: Rayners, Hessle Road

» »

40 ISAAC ACHEAMPONG

Join us to see more of Isaac's work at Wilberforce House Museum When: 27 November, 10am start Where: Chiltern Community Hub

» »

43 SPOT THE GRAF

Follow our trail to see if you can spot the old and new graffiti in the area. Share and tag @eofushu

44 POETRY WORKSHOP

With Hull poet Vicky Foster When: 2 October, 3.30pm Where: Western Library

» »

HU3 is often associated with many things but rarely textiles...

FABRIC

Did you know that HU3 is the birth place of a radical British textile designer? We often find some pretty radical things on HU3 and Shirley Craven, born on Coltman Street in 1934, is one of them. She revolutionised her field in the 60's and 70's and became a hugely important figure in post-war design. After her stint at Hull College of Arts and the Royal College of Art, at the age of 25 she started work at Hull Traders, which was founded by Tristram Hull in 1957 and was a company known for its trail blazing approach to textile design. Just four years later she became Chief Designer and Director. Other amazing women, like Althea McNish, also produced designs for Hull Traders too. We would very much recognise Shirley's design influence today. Historian Lesley Jackson suggests she "pioneered an aesthetic more akin to painting than textiles, breaking all the rules and revolutionising post-war furnishings with her dramatic, unconventional large-scale designs’. Her bold patterns and colours were commercially successful, capturing the style of the swinging sixties and received critical acclaim”.

BUY DUTCH WAX FABRIC

Toviwes Enterprises.

513 Anlaby Road.

DESIGN YOUR OWN FABRIC PATTERN

Drawing workshop with EofUs. 6 November, 10am Chiltern Community Hub

SEE SHIRLEY'S WORK

Google Shirley Craven to see more of her work

ALL M Y WORK IS BASED ON ABSTRACTION. SOMETIMES IT'S AN ABSTRACTION OF FEELING - JOY, SORROW, ANGER, LOVE - BUT AN ABSTRACTION OF LANDSCAPE IS OFTEN AN ABSTRACTION OF FEELING ASWELL. Shirley Craven

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YOU CAN

OF LIFE Elizabeth: For a married woman it’s often wraps and tops. I am from Congo, I just fold the fabric and have it around. The fabric, Ankara, comes as 6 yards and you get the whole outfit from that. Women are not allowed to show their legs.

If you are married the outfit should be longer. And I guess women who wear these clothes respect Christian culture. In Congo it's difficult to see married women wear trousers. Things are changing because of the internet, but in some areas it would never happen.

In the UK it’s very cold so some of us don’t always wear our clothes. Back home it's different. I wear mine for church and weddings. Often you see older women in these clothes. Sometimes husband and wife have matching outfits for special occasions, it looks nice.

Some make the outfits, or tailors make the style you want. Others bring them back from home or order them from tailors there, who post them.

The patterns - wow, there are so many meanings. A Cock and Hen describes family.

Some have writing from The Bible, others statements to express yourselves.

Sometimes during a political campaign you get fabric with politicians on. My favourite?

It depends on my mood, but I really like summer and popping colours.

Hasatu: Hasatu works at Femme Couture at 336 Hessle Road. Her family are Fulani from Gambia, and their outfits reflect this rich and diverse culture. Men, she explains, wear Bazin, a long loose shirt made from a fabric that has pattern woven in, which is embroidered heavily around the neck and on the chest. Women wear dresses known as Brode which, like a Bazin, is made of woven patterned fabric with embroidery additions that can be at the neck but also across the outfit. And they come in many styles and colours. Her Mum Asmaw likes to wear Tube dresses, large floating dresses with embellished necks from tie dyed fabrics. These outfits are mostly made in Gambia and sent to the UK, or made

by Gambian tailors, many of whom can be found in Birmingham.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

...EofUS has been investigating and turned up fabric stories and heritage that deserve celebration. Read on to find out more.

Lisa (Chiltern School): The fabric and clothes come from Sierra Leone. The school was linked to them and we would go and visit. The teachers gave us these things to share what people wore.

The patchwork is made from sections of larger pieces. It's so beautiful.

Nirmala: I am wearing a tissue fabric Shalwar and cotton trousers I call Bells.

The jewellery is a gift from my mum. This is daily wear in India and it's in Summer colours. In winter the colours might change and we would also wear a shawl for warmth.

I would not be allowed in Temple without all this. I am a Hindu and my faith is really important to my life.

Maka:In Alindi culture in Kenya (now Somalia) the traditional clothes are cotton and wraps dyed in natural colours of browns and creams and in stripe patterns. Also all white.

At home we wear a Bati, like this one. Commonly red and black or green and black and always in these patterns.

The head shawl is called a Shash. Men wear them too on their shoulders; these are called Shaals. Brides have a ceremony 3 and 7 days after their wedding and women come and bring Shash as gifts. We pile them on the bride's head. She can then keep or wear them or give as gifts. They also wear gold jewellery but in traditional times it would be beads.

The hijab is a Muslim custom.

We are deeply religious women and so it's important to us to cover our hair. With other women we would take them off, but never in the presence of men, unless it's your husband. In the past girls would be about 13/14 before starting to wear them, but now it’s younger. It is up to them, it is not a rule.

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HU FRE3

GALLERY

HuFree is HU3’s brand new gallery developed by EofUs, with support from Hull Libraries and alongside the HU3 community. It showcases and celebrates the photography, film and print that arises from working class life in Hull because there's a lot to celebrate.

Exhbitions at HUFree Gallery will take a closer look, together, at the people and lives, past and present, that are often hidden or paid scant attention. We will explore too, the national and international links that reflect our beautifully diverse HU3 community, and shape who we are. This is a beginning and a work in progress.

We expect it to grow and adapt and we hope you join us as it does. The gallery will be programmed with, by and for HU3 residents, creatives, groups, business and schools and it will welcome visitors from everywhere.

Alongside exhibitions, there will be workshops, talks and activities and we have ambitions

to generate a range of training and skills development opportunities to benefit the HU3 community. HUFree Gallery was developed as part of the Encyclopedia of Us project (EofUs), with local people and partners, because we know (through creating this newspaper) that many unique and incredible things happen here. We also know that they are just nowhere near visible enough, and that includes an incredibly rich and gorgeous seam of photography. We hope to change that.

VISIT HUFREE GALLERY

Western Library, 262-264 Boulevard, Hull, HU3 3ED Monday 1pm - 6pm Tuesday 9.30am - 1.30pm Thursday 1pm - 6pm Saturday 10am - 1pm

YOU CAN

8 @EOFUSHU3

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

MAY 3 JUL 30 2025

ENTER NEXT YEAR

» Look out for next

Since his successful Humber Street Gallery exhibition, HU3’s very own George Norris has been on a journey, which led to the creation of a new set of stunning photographs that George has called 'Untethered'. EofUs believes it’s an important collection that explores the Norris family history as Hull horse traders and Rag-and-Bone merchants and retraces, via horse and cart, the journeys they made to Appleby Horse Fair.

UNTETHERED

"Untethered is everything I’m passionate about, roots, heritage, shared histories and traditions. My great adventure to Appleby last June changed everything. Among the big characters and liveliness of the whole trip I discovered the power and beauty of the cinematic landscape. I’m grateful to the Arts Council for the award." George Norris

FIND OUT MORE

» See the photographs at

YOU CAN

Hufree Gallery. Western Library until 30 July Read the book in Western, Gypsyville and Central Libraries and at Hull History Centre Read more about the exhibition and George at www.travellerstimes. org.uk

»

»

JUN 2 JUN 14 2025

EAST RIDING NATURE EXHIBITION

year's competition www.heylnp.co.uk

YOU CAN

The Hull and East Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership, East Riding Libraries and East Riding of Yorkshire Council have developed a great Nature Photography Competition for anyone living or working in the region to enter.

There are all sorts of categories for all ages and prizes.

Hufree Gallery were lucky enough to be able to show the inspiring and beautiful 2024 winners images in June all of which featured beautiful natural locations and species in the Hull and East Riding area.

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AUG 28 DEC 11 2025

EXPLORE

Join EofUs to explore Alex’s exhibition 29 November, 11.30 HuFree Gallery

» »

YOU CAN

ALEX KALOGERAKIS

Alex Kalogerakis is a HU3 born and bred visual artist who explores oil painting, drawing and photography. He studied Painting at Camberwell School of Art and now works in his studio off Anlaby Road.

“I never thought Hull would make its way into my art, but I know I'm on the right path because deep down my images feel true to me, they surprise me and satisfy something I was after since I was a kid that I felt was missing. Other than just being a joy to do, art helps me emotionally reconcile life, it's a record of my faith and always felt like a duty I was relieved to fulfill.

My first time seeing Lord Line was like being struck by a lightning bolt - these buildings at the edge of the world said something important to me I could never put into words; it seemed to point to something beyond itself the way a dream might. My efforts now include the slow unravelling of moments of inspiration like this. It drove home that Hull is a microcosm, its issues indicative of humanity at large.

I’ve always sought out better worldviews than the one handed down to us. In those rare moments of awe we transcend our everyday consciousness and become aware of ourselves as part of a larger process. Visionary mystics, romantic poets and rigorous scientists view nature as fundamentally one substance - the imagination.

I grew up digesting people like Carl Jung who mapped the ‘otherworld’ of mythology or what we call the unconscious mind - its traces in Hull are captured by artists from Throbbing Gristle to John Atkinson Grimshaw, or the superstitions documented by Alec Gill.

My influences such as William Blake, Andrei Tarkovsky or Alan Moore are a testament to the way art can shape perception because life is made of poetic metaphor. This is somewhere where past decades still echo very loud. My work is part of this tradition of re-enchanting a place by articulating that vast mental world we inherit. At the very least I want to leave behind evidence that somebody saw every aspect of where I was born as sacred, and didn't have to look further than all of our lives to find infinite meaning”.

Alex Kalogerakis

FIXED ROUTES THAT LEAD TO FLEETING MOMENTS

FIND OUT MORE

Follow Alex and his work IG: @infilthitshallbefound

10 @EOFUSHU3

AUG 11 AUG 23 2025

Joe Foster and The Aimless Archive will show work from their collaboration ’fixed routes that lead to fleeting moments’. This includes Instax photos collected along Spring Bank for HU3 Come To Tea and during The Mini Malarkey at Bransholme Library.

GET INVOLVED

As part of the Mini Malarky festival there are two great family friendly opportunities to get involved led by The Aimless Archive and Joe Foster

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

A photography workshop taking place between two fountains 14 August. 2 - 4pm

»

CREATIVE WRITING

A creative writing workshop inspired by the photos displayed 20 August. 2- 4pm

»

YOU CAN

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

FUTURE EXHIBITIONS?

We'd love to hear your ideas for HU3 inspired photography, film or print exhibitions and workshops for 2026.

GET IN TOUCH

Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @EofUsHU3 Email: hello@eofus.co.uk

»

YOU CAN

MINI MALARKEY FESTIVAL Fabulous news for families! The Big Malarkey is an annual children's literature Festival held in East Park. This August the festival team are bringing some exciting events to Western Library including a oneday pop-up Mini Malarkey Festival on the 20 August!

YOU CAN

The Mini Malarkey Festival will welcome authors, artists, illustrators, and musicians to Western Library.

Workshops and performances by: Poet Paul Cookson Storytelling with author Peter Bently Draw-a-long with illustrator Eleanor Tomlinson Art workshops with Squarepeg Arts and Mischievous Rat artist Charlotte Eldred Creative Writing with The Aimless Archive Author Yesmein BaghAli An interactive trail from Reel Creative Hull Makerspace Hull Museums Hull Maritime Museum There will also be a chance to win a free book every time at the fantastic Hook a Book stall!

BOOK FREE TICKETS

The Mini Malarkey is free for families to attend.

Tickets will be available from Friday 25 July www.hulllibraries. eventbrite.co.uk

»

MORE INFORMATION

More information about The Big Malarkey Festival and/or The mini Malarkey Festival at Western Library www.thebigmalarkey festival.com

»

Tuesday 12th August - Hoglets Theatre will be performing their mermaid themed show ‘Seastorm in a Teacup’ which is suitable for families and children of all ages.

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As EofUs grows, opportunities with HuFree Gallery, a new and important partnership with Western Library on Boulevard has developed. Now seems the right time to introduce the people behind the books, because there’s so much more to them than you think!

WE LOVE BOOKS, BUT WE LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE MORE

'Keep' is an important word. It means to provide substance, support and protection. This is what the team of Cath, Isaac, Ruth, Elaine, Angie and Amelia do... they 'keep' Western Library through the opportunities they create for customers, and for each other. But it’s also there in the feel of the building, in the classic library calmness, in the welcome, the decorations and abundant resources, and a kind of lightness available.

And that's all before the biscuits, the fruit, the mermaid, the cushions and the garden. Everything that creates a feel good, cared for and safe atmosphere.

So let’s start at the beginning. How long have you all worked here?

Cath: I started as a Saturday assistant when I was 17 - that's 40 years ago. I’ve been here ever since. I’m the supervisor now.

Isaac: I’ve worked for Hull Libraries for over 20 years.

The role has varied slightly over the years, to include services like business support. Recently it seems like there’s a more pronounced focus on working with communities, but it’s always essentially been about serving and enhancing opportunities for people and communities.

Ruth: This is my 13th year. I worked in housing too at the council, but now just this.

Elaine: I’ve only done 3 years! I worked in the finance dept for a nursery before.

Amelia: I’ve been working at Western for over 2 years as the Saturday assistant. I started whilst I was studying at uni. In the week I work as an Ecologist.

Angie: I have worked in the libraries for 44 years, the last 12 being at Western Library. It was my first job when I left school at 16.

Wow! that's over 80 years of commitment to HU3 with the belief that people should have free access

to knowledge, learning, opportunities?

C: Yes! And we also do free classes in IT, street dance and people can garden or join Lego club.

R: We offer lots of things like jigsaws or puzzle books, anything to let people know they’re welcome to sit.

Also if you join the libraries there’s free access to audio books and music.

E: You can also download magazines. Subscriptions are so expensive and so if you join the library, which is free, you can access all these magazines. Isn't that amazing?

I: I believe free access to knowledge, information, learning and other opportunities is a human right.

Do you all love books, reading, putting things in an order?

C: No I should have been born in a field, I love being outside, walking, gardening.

R: I like audio books, I listen to them while I'm cleaning or whatever. I love how they silence my busy mind.

They are so important for my well being. Me and my husband like to visit places. We often have an alphabet collection on the go. We’ve done an A to Z of Hull pubs!

E: I like gardening and crochet. Also crafting. I've been helping do the windows here that represent all the seasons.

I: I also like audiobooks. I can absorb content whilst I’m on the go, especially when I’m gardening, or going walkabout. It’s like a mindful meditation, taking in good vibes whilst absorbed in nature. Since working in libraries I guess I have developed a bit of a habit, or more accurately, an appreciation, of categorizing, filing, putting things in order and labelling things. It makes navigating the world of information so much easier. But it can fall apart a bit when you encounter things that belong in more than one category. Clearly,

MORE THAN TWO TALES?

The mermaid, who is not actually a mermaid but a sea nymph [the clue is in the fact she has two tales], was first displayed in 1840 in the Zoological Gardens on Spring Bank. From there she was displayed in Pearson Park from 1863 - 1956, before being given a new home outside Fletcher's Bakery in town [now LUSH].

The fountain she oversaw became known as the ‘penny fountain’ with people throwing coins in for luck. Apparently £2000 was collected in the first two years and it was used for an outing for elderly folks.

How she then came to Western is currently unknown but happily a library volunteer is researching her history.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US life is more nuanced than single categories and labels for everything, but ordering helps.

R: Ooh hold on, there's a book out of place!

Hahaha - so you all do like order?

E: Yes but not so it makes it impossible for people. We do an inventory every year and make sure everything is where it's meant to be. We also have these systems to help people understand what knowledge they can find here. I think we don't always think about what it must be like for people who haven't had access to a free library, or how a cataloging system works. Within the library we can take it for granted. So we now do this Know Thy Shelf, which explains what all the subject headings are. Also life, like knowledge, is not always binary - fiction /non fiction - there's stuff that crosses boundaries. We are trying to cross boundaries or at least collapse the boundaries libraries created between themselves and the communities they serve.

We want to be inclusive of all.

R: It’s so liberating to find out something or how to find the books and info you want. Some people are shy of asking, or the subject is difficult for them to talk about. So once they know they can then just help themselves… just like on the internet!

C: I hope the information here can be more trusted.

People can trust the information we keep and share, because that's our job.

Trusted information... that's interesting. On our phones we think we are accessing all the world's information and it's all good, but that's not right is it?

So why is a place like this so important?

C: It’s about connection. It’s safe and we are trustworthy. We can help people find appropriate information. We can guide them.

LIBRARIES ARE NOT QUIET PLACES, WE ARE ACTIVE PLACES. WE ARE EVOLVING IN A GOOD WAY.

E: We make huge differences in people's lives. We get such a mix of people through the door, young people, parents. People coming for bus passes and photocopying. People from other parts of the world, people who want to use computers. We are like citizen advice, we signpost people to stuff or try to find out the answer.

R: We had a man the other day, a taxi driver, who'd come for a form, but then he saw the local history books and borrowed one to learn about the area. We are a constant team, which means we are constant in people's lives.

C: People don’t feel threatened by us. The image of the libraries has changed, we have softened and we are coming back to the idea of being distinct for each area they sit in. They are different from when many of us were kids and all hierarchical.

E: In many jobs in the council you are seen as authority and are afraid to ask. Here it's the opposite, people are confident to ask us for help. Libraries are not quiet places, we are active places. We are evolving in a good way.

K: People expect us to know everything, and really when I think about the team, we do know lots because we’ve all had so much experience or are interested in so many things?

R: We don’t do the word no, and people are so grateful.

Haha the brains and the soft underbelly?

E: I love meeting people and learning about their

Western Library

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

PERCY

I live directly opposite Western.

I was stuck inside.

I started when they were doing the garden. I love being outside now.

So I help about three hours a week in the summer. In the winter if it's wet I help inside.

I also help with events and grow healthy food. I keep my eye on the garden. I mainly started for friendship, to get out of the house.

I find it relaxing, I’ve grown friends and plants by coming here.

background and stories.

R: I like that we always have time for people. We don't realise the impact of our job, because we might help people in a small way but that is massive in how they change their lives.

C: Yes there is great job satisfaction - it’s not about the money. And if we are feeling like the toll on us is too much, someone else in the team will step in while we get a break. It can be hard sometimes. Lots of people have challenging lives or poor mental health. Now though they can learn new skills and get jobs with the things they learn.

E: We do what we can. People are envious of the job, they think it's a job where I can just sit and read!

I: There’s a really strong and repeated pattern I hear often when listening to famous and successful people on the radio, talking about their childhoods and upbringing; a lot of them seem to mention the importance of libraries in their life. Most successful people seem to have a library story. I think we often take it for granted how much of an impact we can, and do, have on people’s lives. I love seeing the look of awe and joy in kids’ faces when they walk into what is essentially a building with ‘gazillions’ of books from wall to wall, a palace of books. Einstein said ‘If you want kids to be intelligent, read them fairy tales, and if you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales’. It’s all about curiosity and imagination.

So the future looks good for libraries and the Western?

I: We are lucky in Hull because we have the James Reckitt Trust that really supports libraries. Sir James Reckitt was a Hull philanthropist who, despite resistance from powerful people, successfully campaigned for free public libraries in Hull.

K: Our head of service is so supportive and I feel like the council really values what we do.

I: Yes we are evolving, tailoring our work to the needs of the community, hence our connection to EofUS. E: We’d like to be open more hours though. I’d like more school kids to visit with teachers, we see how difficult it is to get children here when the days are so busy. But if they came with school they might then come another time and encourage their adults too. We’d show the kids this place it's about connections and friendships.

K: We want to work in stronger partnerships. For example we have carers bring care home residents in.

We are just about to be a Mini Malarky site too.

I: We want to do more with our Garden – especially around our iconic mermaid fountain!

C: We are given freedom to do things our community needs. We all bring ourselves more.

Isaac: We are encouraged to be creative and think out of the box - we are doing exciting things and being more creative. It feels like a good time.

FIND OUT MORE

»

Visit western library and join.

Membership is free: www. hulllibraries. co.uk/ borrowing/jointhe-library

WALK & TALK

YOU CAN

»Join EofUs and

Western staff for a tour of the Mermaid and Gallery, 25 September, 10am start

@EOFUSHU3 13

WALKS & TALKS

M Y STRESS HAS GONE, I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER NOW, HAPPY. I’VE BREATHED DEEPLY THIS CLEAN AIR OF NATURE NOT THE CITY. THANK YOU. Zaynab

Walk & Talk is a regular walking group EofUs and Lisa Grieg from Chiltern Primary developed and deliver. Starting out from the Chiltern Community Hub on Gordon Street, we leave at 10am and return to school for 2. During each walk we visit cultural or historic places, we explore shops and markets and places we’ve never been, we get coffees and cake and food from places at least one of us knows and we try to learn things about our city and each other. We build friendships, and talking helps us keep well in a different way. Oh and it get us out! What follows is a few examples of the places and things we see and experience Thanks: Lisa, Rachel, Maryan, Maryann, Maka, Zaynab, Elizabeth, Alice, Aiysha, Nirmala, Ruta, Kate, Michael, Mylene, David

14 @EOFUSHU3

YOU DID

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

87 GALLERY

What does home mean to you? “A safe place. Where my family are. HU3, with my friends. My garden.

Somewhere that’s not too hot!” This question and the telling answers were catalysed by the Luis and Sebastian Bustamante’s Cold Junction exhibition at 87 Gallery that the Walk and Talk group visited on one of their trips out.

Arriving in the UK as a political refugee from Chile on Christmas Eve, 1974 – Luis Bustamante was one of thirty Chileans who were welcomed by the city after fleeing government oppression in his home country. The exhibition featured a selection of his black and white photos of 70s Hull, objects brought in suitcases when leaving their homeland, and more recent images of Chilean women searching for their 'disappeared" relatives. All provoked us to think about how we came to be in HU3 and how having found our way here via the Congo, Somali, Lithuanian, the Philippines, India, and Ireland what it feels like now. “We are now one big family, but there's no way we would have known each other unless we had come here. I am so grateful for everyone’s friendship and support of school. I'm so happy to be amongst good friends.”

YOU CAN

VISIT 87 GALLERY

» 87 Princes Ave, HU5 3QP »87gallery.co.uk

HUMBER FORESHORE

There weren't any push penny machines and no we didn't paddle, but we did stand and admire the view. Standing on our foreshore helped us think of other places we know with a wide river… Mombasa in Kenya being one. A place thousands of miles away but it was brought to life through memory sharing and exploring Google maps. We agreed Walk and Talk offers many things: a way to learn about local sights, the sharing of places we once called home, where our family now live and how we all ended up here, near Little Switz, to drink in a view and a coffee.

STORIES OF STORAGE

Walking Tour 2 to explore HU3, took place on 6th April 2024 and was supported by Humber Street Gallery and George Norris. We used the exhibition 'You & Me In HU3' as a starting point to collaborate on dual-photos on two cameras that could only take a photo of the other camera taking a photo back.

We looked at the 'You Can Cards' made for Walking Tour 1 and wrote our own cards with things we could do on our everyday routes.

The Aimless Archive

STREET LIFE

On a beautiful autumn day we headed for Old Town and the Museums Quarter. We visited the swing bridge which led to a discussion on flood defences, high tides and the connection to the moon. In the Street Life Museum the old trams, cycles and carriages made us curious about how people from our different countries travelled in the past camels and donkeys and of course by foot! The ride in an 1870 Royal Mail carriage made us seasick! Before our final stop - the city’s smallest window at The George Hotel [a place where people peeked, watching out for visitors] made us laugh at how the window was a perfect metaphor for our group's aims - how a little light can teach you lots if you’re ready to look.

WALK & TALK

Join us on 25 September for our next walk to Library and the Marina.

Meet at 10am Community Hub in Chiltern School Get in touch if you'd like to chat with us before joining a walk Contact Kate: hello@eofus. co.uk, 0771 3647 715

YOU » CAN » VISIT STREET LIFE MUSEUM

»free everyday » www.hullmuseums. co.uk/streetlifemuseum

»

FIND OUT MORE

» IG @the.aimless.archive PHOTO WALK

JADE GRICE

1984 - 2025. Our Walk and Talking friend will be sadly missed.

Join The Aimless Archive and Joe Foster for a family friendly photography walk between two fountains workshop.

20 August. Western Library, 2 -4pm. www. hulllibraries.eventbrite. co.uk

»

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CREATIVE, FOCUSED, PROBLEM SOLVERS

In Issue 4 we discussed late diagnosis of ADHD and Autism. This has led us to one of the region's leading charities, Matthew's Hub - right in the heart of HU3.

We talked to Gill Poole, their Chief Officer, about her personal mission and the charity's good work…

WE SET UP BECAUSE MATTHEW DIED BY SUICIDE. AUTISTIC PEOPLE AND THOSE WITH ADHD ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY SUICIDE THAN OTHER PEOPLE.

Matthew's Hub - can you tell us a little more?

We help neurodivergent people, without a learning disability aged 13 or over, living in Hull or East Riding, better understand their autism and / or ADHD, and how it impacts their lives. We support neurodivergent people to develop their own coping strategies and management techniques to live their best lives.

Wow, how did it all begin?

Matthew's Hub was founded in 2014, after Matthew sadly took his own life. His Mum Simona wanted there to be something in memory of him, because she believed if there had been a service that had supported him, he might still be alive today. Simona donated money and I worked with Simona and one of our Trustees to develop the service. Ryan, who was autistic and had set up his own support group for advice, also joined us. Together we found a building and the rest as they say is history!

What is important about this work and the Hub? Neurodivergent people can be creative, focused, problem-solvers, and have attention to detail. They often think outside the box, have strong observational skills, and excel in areas like pattern recognition and memory. A neurodiverse person's biggest barrier though is how to interact with the world. There are many social expectations and ways of being. For example I spent years not fitting in at my previous roles, struggling, thinking I was not good enough. The corporate world has expectations of how people are and I'm not really that - I have ADHD. I’m really proud to now lead differently. We as an organisation bend and adapt to suit people and also understand what it's like for others. Here people work what they can and we understand that. All 26 staff are either autistic, have ADHD and / or dyslexia. We all have lived, worked and academic experience to bring and share with our members. Actually, no, the person who does the finance is neurotypical! We do what works, for people, we don’t get it right all the time but we are trying our best.

You’re saying social norms are against us?

Yes! Neurodiversity is a fast and evolving science and people’s understanding of it is growing. People are used to an ableist society, but we all need to get better at looking it in the eye and see the nuances.

What can people access at Matthew's Hub? Peer mentoring is a massive part of what we do because no one understands neurodivergent impacts or the reasonable/unreasonable adjustments that are asked better than another neurodivergent person. We work in a person centred way and do not expect one size to fit all so we develop support to fit.

MATTHEW'S HUB

» www. matthewshub.org » 01482 221028

MY EXPERIENCE

HU3 resident J tells us more about their lived experience of autism.

We also sell training to individuals, organisations and businesses so the world better understands enabling neurodivergent people to live their best lives. It’s a two way thing, we learn about them and they learn about us.

Excitingly we have just received Big Lottery funds to develop a ADHD coaching strand. Where staff will be trained to work with folks. They will start by looking at

"My experience as an autistic person is incredibly diverse and all-encompassing.

Some things I struggle with daily are socialising and recognising social cues, emotional regulation and various sensory difficulties. Sometimes it upsets me that I cannot communicate as easily as others can, struggling to decipher tone, such as sarcasm, and social etiquette; when, and in what ways, I am supposed to be “polite” - I often feel this way when others

expect me to communicate flawlessly despite being autistic. Other times, I am humoured by the various convoluted and roundabout ways that neurotypical people attempt to communicate and relieved that I communicate in a clear way. Many autistic people are very straight-forward or “blunt” in our communication methods, including myself, which can scare some people off - but I have found over the years that a lot of people value being told the

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US the thing they most want to change. It could be time management or self esteem...and it won't be just a few sessions. It will be tailored to what's needed for the person.

We do loads of social things, this is a massive part of us and its always evolving. We are also looking for things to signpost people to like gaming, arts clubs, music things across Hull and East Riding. Places that are neurodivergent friendly. We then buddy up to support people to attend. Yes we promote independence and resources, but we also support and help people access things, this opens up life for people.

You are doing long term and front line work then important stuff?

Yes. There’s a study out recently that says 70% of people who die by suicide are Autistic. Which we know from personal experience. Part of this is the loneliness people can feel and it still shocks me. That’s why the social element of what we do is so important.

I guess there's more?

Yes we do a youth group which provides a space to build confidences. We have a parents of neurodivergent kids group and we support neurodivergent parents in that too. Everyone comes together and actively listens to each other's experience and we realise in that room - are we doing ok or we are not on our own. It’s like we enable parents to build a bank of information and experience. We have a quiet group - where folks do gaming. It means people can socialise without looking at each other. And we do ADHD Active as well.

USEFUL RESOURCES

READ

» ‘Fast Minds’: How to

Thrive If You Have ADHD (or Think You Might) Tim Bilkey and Craig Surman ‘DIRTY LAUNDRY: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help’

by Richard Pink and Roxanne Emery ‘A Liberated Mind’ by Steven Hayes The Bullet Journal www.bulletjournal.com

» » »

Oh and there's a women's group for neurodivergent pre and menopausal women that runs four times a year. I went along and was amazed at how intimate it was, but how because it was so safe everyone there was into it.

» The ADHD podcast:

Everything we develop is what people want or need.

We try it... sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, but we are always happy to try.

»

Do you hear the impact of your work from people who access Matthew’s Hub? Of course and it's always moving, they say things like: I wouldn’t be here without you!

LISTEN

Home - The ADHD Adults Podcast Episode #97: Build Your ADHD Scaffolding

WATCH

Grandon: The Autistic Brain Scan the QR code to watch the video

We had a young man access daily support, he was very overweight but into gaming and drama. Covid had an impact on him too and after that we didn't see him.

Then one day I saw him in town going into the theatre.

He had lost lots of weight and was living his life being part of a theatre group. This was huge for me. He was getting on without us and that's ultimately as it should be.

» TickTick - To do list,

truth and that they find autistic people to be trustworthy.

Being autistic isn’t a “superpower”, it doesn’t grant us magical abilities and it doesn’t make us super clever (or good at maths). Something I think neurotypical people are misinterpreting is that many of us hyperfixate on certain hobbies, topics, books, tv shows (and yes, even maths).Personally, I suck at maths and

» »

Being autistic doesn’t grant us with any special abilities or gifts, we are simply often deeply - interested in certain topics

Trusting, caring relationships are a core foundation of our mental wellbeing. To believe we are cared about we need to feel a human connection.

GET SUPPORT

HULL & EAST YORKSHIRE MIND

» Wellington House, 108 Beverley Rd, Hull HU3 1YA » heymind.org.uk/wspd20 »Tel: 01482 240200 » heymind.org.uk/helplines PAPYRUS

Reducing the number of young people who take their own lives. www.papyrus-uk.org Hopeline: 0800 068 4141 Text: 88247

» » »

CALM

Campaign Against Living Miserably is suicide ENVIRONMENT prevention charity on a A poor environment encourages poor mental mission to help people end health. If people feel safe, secure and valued their misery, not their lives. they are much more likely to stay well and 0800 58 58 58 recover faster. Where possible we need

Physical activity is vital to our health and wellbeing and that this is often overlooked when considering mental health care.

Activity can include many forms from walking to climbing. Without activity we too easily lose our sense of self and worth.

COMPASSION

Sometimes we’re just too hard on ourselves.

We see media portrayals of what ‘normal’ is and beat ourselves up because we don’t think we meet the standard. We need to get much better at showing compassion, not just to others around us, but also to ourselves.

Sometimes it’s OK to be different.

HOPE

YOU CAN

am not at all academic, but I love learning about the inner mechanisms of how our world works and always have. I love to learn random facts about niche topics and believe this filters into my work as an illustrator and creative, using my observations to build a visual world.

RELATIONSHIPS

ACTIVITY

APPS

checklist and task manager app for Android, iPhone and Web Finch - Your New Self Care Best Friend Habitica Gamify Your Life

EofUs suspects each of you will know a tragic story or a family affected by suicide like Mathew's Hub does. Its obvious every suicide is a disaster and has a profound impact on families and loved ones. But sadly suicide is still the main cause of death in young people under the age of 35 in the UK. In 2023, 1,840 young people under the age of 35 took their own lives in the UK and around three-quarters of them were boys or young men. But research has shown that with appropriate early intervention and support, suicide by young people can be prevented.

Importantly the charity MIND has developed a Model of Mental Health Care called REACH in the belief that it’s important to understand what good mental health care looks like for ourselves and as we support others.

shared spaces and avoid cutting ourselves off.

»Temple

But of course we also know what we offer is not for everyone. Some people call us and that's enough to get a signpost, others come to things for years. We say we give people a ‘Loving Push’, we value them and we support them to move forward. I’m inspired by a autistic academic called Temple Grandon. She has done so much for herself against the difficult system, she pushes herself into the world.

You must be proud of yourself and the work?

Umm, I’m proud of course, but it's something I shy away from claiming. This organisation and our work is all about the staff and the members who lead it where it goes. I just network and have a mind to lead. Years ago I met someone who said I was a catalyst for change and a networked entrepreneur! Which sounds perfect, a lot better than ‘chief officer’... saying that maybe I’ll change the job title!

REACH OUT

Without a genuine belief that things can improve we get stuck and lose motivation.

Positive role models in our lives are important - and they can be anyone from a teacher to a librarian. Hope isn’t always easy and when somebody is acutely unwell it can be difficult to find the hope in what might seem a hopeless situation. But sharing stories, connecting, listening and moving together can inspire others and show that recovery, if not cure, is almost always possible.

and thus put a lot of thought and energy into learning everything there is to know about our hyperfixations. Our knowledge, like anyone else’s, is passion, work and research, not a gift.

I think it’s important that neurotypicals learn that autistic people aren’t stupid, or magically talented, nor are we trying to be rude - we have value and deserve respect, regardless of ability, difficulties

»

MENS MINDS MATTER

Mens Minds Matter was set up to support people around suicide prevention and intervention. www.mensmindsmatter. org contact@ mensmindsmatter.org

» »

BEAT

Under 18s helpline, webchat and online support.

0808 801 0711 www.beateating disorders.co.uk

» »

SAMARITANS

» 116 123 SANELINE

» Specialist Mental Health advice 6pm-11pm » 0300 304 7000

or contribution to society. Many barriers that autistic people face are not due to us being autistic but due to lack of accessibility, informedness, acceptance and disability training. Autistic people shouldn’t have to change themselves in order to function or fit into society. I think it’s important to remember that all autistic people are different and being autistic manifests in many different ways, this is just my experience."

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Scene but not heard is both an exploration into HU3's important working class gay and drag performance scene of the 1970s, 80s and 90s and also a response. We noticed that there is a body of largely unseen photographs, that document this scene, but are currently dispersed in the private collections of the photographers. These images, memories and found documents are now starting to be collected and archived. Offering, eventually, an important national record of HU3’s important LGBTQ+ heritage and workingclass venues as safe spaces. But it doesn’t stop there.

In Issue 3 we shared the discovery of photographs documenting performers on HU3 such as The Broadway Belles and Bobby Mandrell, in venues like the Tower and St George’s Pub. Many were taken by photographers such as Russell Boyce, Ross Williams and Tony Ward. We knew instantly that their all but forgotten work represented both a unique and artistically significant body of photographs and an important social record. We also had a feeling these photographs were just the tip of the iceberg and were too important to remain hidden.

Our gut instincts were right, because as we’ve investigated many more photos, stories, connections and photographers have come to light. Collectively creating a valuable story and representation which challenges the authorised heritage and negative stories often said of the area.

Fortunately, Humber Museums Partnership, Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund also agree. Their funding is going to help us dig deeper and do more. Using the photos and stories as a key, to unlock, gather and add to the collection with the personal and collective memories, lived experience, stories, photographs and films of local residents and LGBTQ+ communities, who were also part of that scene.

We are growing a team of interested and connected folks who will help seek out and gather the unseen and unheard. There's a new website where images and oral histories will be shared.

This will be backed up by formal archives at both Hull History Centre and The Bishopgate Institute in London.

PHOTO: TONY WARD

Many of the performers and people photographed have been found, and in fact some, like Bobby Mandrell, are still performing.

Some of the pubs and clubs still exist and have agreed to support the work. The Dragavanza event at Rayners on August the 9th is just the first event that will bring original and contemporary drag performers, new and old audiences and the LGBTQ+ community together, for fun, reminiscing and the sharing of stories of resistance.

Alongside this a series of creative workshops with young LGBTQ+ groups will be offered with a view to adding their own contributions.

Small commissions will be offered to LGBTQ+ writers, visual artists, curators, musicians and designers to create in response to the historical materials. This will help us all think about what we can all learn from the past, to help us in these current times.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

THE DREAMGIRLS

The Dreamgirls are Stephen Atkinson aka Stevie Charles and Garry Lane aka Chris Black. During the '80s and '90s they were regular performers in pubs like 'The Vauxhall' and 'St Georges'. They still perform internationally.

PHOTO: DAVID SMITH

“Back then Hull or Manchester both had big gay scenes. In Hull there seemed to be no problems, everyone we worked with were always so friendly. In Hull it was great.

There were sailors, men from all over the world, gay men and lesbians - everyone all together. They took you for a person, not your sexual preference. They couldn't care what you looked like.”

MARGARET

RUSSELL BOYCE

Margaret was the full time barmaid at Dee St Club from 1981 for 25 years.

It regularly hosted drag performances.

Russell moved into a small, terraced house on St George’s Road in 1982.

Under the guidance of tutor Daniel Meadows he started to document the HU3 community.

"In Dee St Club, when I first worked there, no women were allowed in the downstairs bar - just men and us barmaids. The cocktail bar was real nice, all burnt orange and coffee tables and a jukebox. The room at the top had a big stage for artists - comedians, singers, the band, drag acts, all sorts. Sometimes there were strippers for special womens nights. People would queue at New Year and Christmas to get in and I would dress up… I've been Wonder Woman, a soldier. A kid lent me a rifle and I banged it on the floor and it shot a hole in the ceiling, I could have killed everyone! I was a red Christmas tree fairy, a baby with a dummy, a pumpkin, a snowman. We had a French night, and once I wore a kilt that when I bent down you could see what I had for breakfast. They loved it. It made people happy. It made me happy. I loved everyone. It was the best job I ever had. I knew everyone who came in. I earnt more tips than I got wages. When they pulled it down they got me standing outside looking sad for the Daily Mail."

Brett is a photographer and artist, born and based in HU3. While on a Foundation course at Hull School of Art in the early 80s, he met Daniel Meadows, who was leading the photography BA and encouraged him to make photographs.

PHOTO: BRETT HAMBLING

“The chinagraph on the contact sheets is Daniel's. I showed him and he crit’d the work and inspired me to keep going. My foundation staff found me later on and said 'Where have you been? We've not seen you'. I showed them this work and they said 'Wow amazing'. These photos were in my final show. The one of Kandy was also shown in 'Young Ones' at Ffoto gallery in Cardiff in 1984. Sir Tom Hopkinson the famous picture editor and Mike Steele of Getty Images selected it”.

I HELPED M Y FRIEND SUE MAKE THE COSTUMES FOR THE GG GIRLS. AMAZING COSTUMES LIKE SHOWGIRLS AND ZIGFIELD FOLLIES. ONCE THEY WANTED TO COPY FREDDIE MERCURY AND MONTSERRAT CABALLE. WE MADE JOHN (SADLY NOT WITH US ANYMORE), A FAT SUIT WITH BOOBS, TASSLES ONE, THE LOT. AT THE END HE’D DO A STRIP AND SO EVERYONE WOULD SEE THE TASSELS AND THE FLUFF! Pearl

PHOTO: RUSSELL BOYCE

BRETT HAMBLING

“In St George’s pub Ray Millington performed as Kandy Lee Barry to a packed and smoky saloon bar. Only the bravest or foolish would try to get a drink while Kandy was performing, the danger of being singled out was just not worth the risk.

This chaos was like a magnet to me. It was not only the glamour and fun of Kandy’s performance, with many costume changes and appearances of Shirly Bassey, Cher, Shirely Temple, a pregnant nun, a union jack costume and sometimes a gorilla that attracted me, it was also the reactions of the people. Most important was the change in mood as Kandy transformed back to Ray live on stage for the finale to the sounds of Charles Aznavour ‘What Makes a Man a Man’. It never lost its impact no matter how many times it was seen. Tears wiped from eyes as landlady Clarice Mack would shout into the mic ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, Kandy de Barry a true artiste!’. If you were spotted not clapping Clarice would point at you and shout ‘You clap now!’”

@EOFUSHU3 19

​​ “PEOPLE USED TO SAY TO ME 'AREN’T YOU FRIGHTENED OF GETTING UP ON STAGE DRESSED LIKE THAT IN FRONT OF ALL THE FISHERMEN'...BUT THAT NEVER BOTHERED ME. NEVER BOTHERED ME AT ALL. IF ANYTHING I HAD A GOOD LAUGH WITH THEM.”

Bobby Mandrell

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

THE KIDS' BIT FOR KIDS AGED 0-100

@ @EOFUSHU3 EOFUSHU3 21

THE FUN BIT

1. GRAFFITI 2. ACCEPTANCE 3. FLOWERS 4. LUCK 5. LORDLINE 6. CRAVEN

JOKES

7. SCENE 8. FREE 9. GALLERY 10. LIBRARY 11. HEARD 12. TEXTILES

13. BOULEVARD 14. KNOWLEDGE 15. WRITING 16. EXHIBITION 17. PAINTING 18. FABRIC

19. EOFUS 20. FOOD 21. SPEECH 22. JOY 23. RESPECT 24. MURAL

Why was the cell phone scared to go to the dentist? He didn’t want him to remove his bluetooth.

What did two bugs on a windscreen say to each other? Bet you don’t have the guts to do that again. ​​Why don't the circus lions eat the clowns? Because they taste funny!

What do you give a scientist with bad breath? Experi-mints.

What did the picture do to end up in jail? Nothing. He was framed!

What musical instrument would you find in a bathroom? A tuba toothpaste.

What race is never run? The human race.

What is a robot’s favorite snack? Computer chips.

Why couldn't the skeleton go to school? His heart just wasn’t in it.

Why do hummingbirds hum? Because they don’t know the words!

22 @EOFUSHU3

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

CULTURE DAY AT BOULEVARD!

Culture Day is a yearly celebration that allows people to teach others about their culture and celebrate each other's difference. Year 9 students tell us more.

BRILLIANT BOULEVARD'S BEST BITS

At the Boulevard Academy, pupils from different places and cultures are allowed and are free to get an education. This education enables them to plan for their big and bright futures!

The school provides lots of different plans and interventions to help support the students. For example, they provide lessons for non- english speakers to help them learn, improve and feel proud of learning a new language.

Recently, the school also hosted a ‘Culture Day’. In this, there were different lessons about different countries and cultures, and throughout the week, there were different dishes from different countries so that students could try something new.

My favourite thing about Culture Day was how people wore their cultural clothes. There were colourful dresses. The mixture of colours and patterns ignited the school. It represented the joy that was sparked within the students.

CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD

All cultures should be accepted in their own way. In The Boulevard Academy, many cultures are accepted and celebrated. Culture Day is one of the most important and anticipated days of the year. It allows people to teach others about their culture and celebrate each other's differences. There were many different cultures celebrated through traditional dress, flags, activities and food.

Millie Richards

Archie Ellis

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THE ECO COMMITTEE

SPEAK UP FOR CHANGE

Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat and the air we breathe, so why risk damaging it? At the Boulevard Academy, the Eco Committee regularly meet, share ideas and discuss actions that can make our school and community more sustainable. Not only do we discuss- we take action!

Our work has already started making a difference. We regularly litter pick in the local community, ensuring all waste goes in the correct bin to be recycled where possible. It has even sparked comments from the public telling us what a great job we are doing.

Our most recent project has been with Reckitts and involved a lot of work with other local partnerships such as Hull City Council- ‘Living with Water’. To them, we are known as the Climate Change Makers! The project included making small changes to how we live and then incorporating this into our school. By doing this, we have secured funding for our school to become more sustainable and make a garden to increase biodiversity and even grow our own food!

Passionate Year 9 and 10 writers and social activists from Boulevard Academy speak up for change!

Thanks to Miss Buckby, Teacher of English

RESPECT

My definition of respect is the ability to tolerate someone's opinion and decisions although you might have different opinions to different things as you might view them differently.

In today's world, according to society, people have their own different beliefs and we have to accept them as they have the right to make those decisions themselves, but they don’t act on that rule as more people are respected than others because their beliefs differ to that of others so they deserve to be of more respect than others which is completely wrong.

If their decision and opinions are generally wrong, and they have been corrected before, but they refuse to accept it, they shouldn’t be forced to change it, as they should make their own decision for themselves, but that doesn’t mean that it can't be impacted by others.

Sharon Ekeme Year 9

24 @EOFUSHU3

TOLERANCE

Respect is where you tolerate peers' and others' opinions, personality, and decisions. Many people in our world have earned respect, but some have not. Many people have been discriminated against, bullied, and even had to face racism, but even in this world of discrimination, there is still respect. The people who have earned or show respect to others are spreading kindness without realising it. They are not hating or discriminating; they are respecting who others are. Respect is not just about fame or because they're cool. It's about respecting others' opinions, decisions, and most important of all, personality. In this community, respect is shown in many different ways. Many ways include: personality, opinions, effort, work, decisions, friendship, and many more. Not all of this community is hate; it's also respect.

Jade Carter Baldwin

Some of the other smaller but by no means less important projects include: • Recycling coffee pods with Podback • Organising meat-free days at our school • Advertising the importance of recycling in school and at home • Great Big School Clean 2024 + 2025 We aim to look after the environment, educate people about the importance of being eco-friendly and be respectful of our local community.

Jennifer and Tolu

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

"NOT ONLY DO WE DISCUSS WE TAKE ACTION!"

ACCEPT

People truly underestimate. The Power that lies in a group.

Any group can make a loop.

But first, a group must be accepted.

Culture creates a family.

Diversity creates joy. This joy brings a smile.

And a smile, a smile brings us together.

A diverse culture can achieve anything.

But to do this.

You must accept and be accepted.

Once a lesson is taught, only then are they able to think.

As an accepting community, what more could possibly change?

Could peace form, or could all bullying and discrimination come to an end.

We will never know, unless we truly learn to accept.

Cairon Priestley Yr10

YOU THINK ABOUT CAN What change would you like to see?

EVER YO

N E IS

DIFFERENT PEOPLE. WE ARE A TEAM

I founded Neurodiversity Celebration Week because as a teenager who is autistic and has ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, my experience has been that people often focus on the challenges of neurological diversity. I wanted to change the narrative and create a balanced view which focuses equally on our talents and strengths. Siena Castellon

WE ARE ALL UNIQUE. WE CAN ALL RESPECT EACH OTHER. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT

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EVERYONE IS UNIQUE, NO MATTER

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US “We celebrated Neurodiversity Week in Chiltern Primary School, with Downs Syndrome Awareness Day on 21st March. Here are some odd socks that the Nurture Group designed, made and sold for the charity to celebrate our differences.” Mrs Marshall. Head Teacher

UN IQUE, NO MATTER W

HAT!

RESPECT EVERYONE EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT YOUR FRIEND

Thank you:

Grace, Roxy, Ina, Samuel, Fulin, Jaydan, Mia, Jonny, Esesa, Fulin, Icah, Ted

FIND OUT MORE

YOU CAN

Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to create more inclusive cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual. www.neurodiversityweek.com

»

@EOFUSHU3 27

COLOURING IN

Be inspired by this West African fabric. What colours will you choose?

YOU CAN

SEND US YOUR PICTURE

» FB/Insta: @EofUsHU3 » hello@eofus.co.uk

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

PHOTO: TONY WARD

GEORGE NORRIS

Alex and J met in London and moved to HU3 in 2021. Both document their friends and the drag acts who are part of their community.

"I’ve been feeling a lot of anxiety and unrest recently. I’m finding it hard to believe someone in the future might say sorry about the trans rulings and decisions that have been made of late. It's a scary and uncertain time. Things have happened like this in the past. Rights have been taken away and people have lived through that and come out the other side and it's better. I don't want it to get worse... I want people to realise that it's a mistake what’s been agreed. I find myself hating the government. Sorry won't be enough.

You can't treat people, humanity with complete disregard and be forgiven. It feels like a major fuck thats going to cause alot of people pain and anguish and I dread to think of the mortaility rates and the impacts its going to have. I hope like past generations we come out a bit stronger and stand by each other and it will just be another line in the crappy history book that we got past." Alex

WHAT I'M FINDING INTERESTING RIGHT NOW IS THAT IT WAS BETTER BEFORE. NORMALLY YOU'D SAY - “I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO TO THE PAST”, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE PRESENTLY… SO DOCUMENTING THE TRANS, DRAG AND QUEER COMMUNITY ON FILM AND NOT DIGITAL IS AN ACT TO DECLARE WE EXIST. J

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"I learnt about politics and life through music - the Clash were my band. They’d pay all this great music downstairs in Silhouette - on spring bank. Silhouette was a club, but everyone knew it was a gay club. But we all went and everyone was safe in there.

It was a Georgian house. Upstairs was like a living room where the older generation of gay people would sit. In the basement was the bar and dance floor. There was a chair in the upstairs room - I think they called it the Meat Rack! It was where you’d sit if you were looking for love! People like Twaddles and Slack and Pete who went out with owner Ray would be in there and lots of dandy’s. Molly was on the door and she’d frighten us all to death, she was a scary character. We loved it. "

PHOTO: GEORGE NORRIS

ALEX & J

George has been documenting Bobby Mandrell for the last few years, as part of capturing the life and loves of HU3.

I’VE DONE SOME LOOKING IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE HULL DAILY MAIL. I’VE SEEN ADVERTS FOR NIGHTS THAT INCLUDE THE DREAMGIRLS, THE BROADWAY BELLES, THE THREE FAHRENHEITS, DAVID JAMES, BARRY STEVENS, BUBBLES , BOBBY MANDRELL/ KANDY LEE BARRY, DOCKYARD DORIS AND ROSIE & CO. Jim Greenhalgh.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

CHRISSY & DENISE

Chrissy and Denise have been a couple for 37 years - married for 17. They were regulars of the St George and Vauxhall pubs during the 80s/90’s and became part of a large supportive social group that included gay men, lesbians and straight couples.

"We met at Rossands shoe factory, but she didn't like me! There were quite a few gay women at Rossands, young ones, and at first they didn't accept us, or were wary of letting us in because they were more promiscuous and we were such a strong couple. We also got to know the older gay women who had values more like ours.

There was a place on Walton Street, a centre, where lesbian women met in the late 80’s. We went a few times but really we knocked about more with gay men like Ray and Shaun and Gary. We felt better with them. Plus there were our straight friends too. A big group of sixteen. We all still go out these days. One big family.

After Ray left St George’s we used to drink in the Darley, it was run by two gay men, then it was the Vauxhall. Vauxhall was the best pub with Frankie running it. It was termed gay friendly, but really it was more gays. It was so great, you could just walk in and you’d know someone, there would always be a pint on the bar for you. There was no trouble and people watched your back. Then it went and we haven’t really had a proper home since then. "

THE TEAM SO FAR...

ON LONDESBOROUGH STREET WAS A CLUB CALLED THE PINK FLAMINGO... THE UPSTAIRS WAS FOR TRANSGENDER AND GAY PEOPLE AND DOWNSTAIRS WAS FOR STRAIGHT PEOPLE. TWICE A WEEK WE’D MIX. IT WAS FUN...

THEY’D BUY US DRINKS AND WE’D BUY THEM DRINKS BACK...WE TRET PEOPLE LIKE THEY TRET US. THERE WAS MUTUAL RESPECT... IF THEY RESPECT YOU, YOU RESPECT THEM - NO MATTER WHAT. Frank

Layla Jabbari

I have lived in Hull for over 20 years and am fascinated by the stories I come across in this city.

Jim Greenhalgh

I work as an Associate Professor in History in the School of History and Heritage at the University of Lincoln.

Deborah Munt

I'm a director of Three Ways East, the company behind EofUs projects.

I'm interested in cultural democracy... who has the right to produce, access and determine what culture looks like.

Kate Genever

I'm EofUS lead artist and investigator.

I'm passionate about celebrating overlooked histories and stories of people and places.

Tom /The Aimless Archive

I generate starting points for conversation and new work, build archives to respond to and reflect upon, and I evaluate collected material.

ROSS WILLIAMS

Ross is one of the original photographers whose work we've unearthed. He, like Russell and Brett, began investigating Hull in the 1980’s and 90’s as a student taught

by Daniel Meadows. Nowadays he teaches photography at Leeds School of Arts.

FIND OUT MORE

» Visit: www.

“I am excited to be part of the Scene but not Heard project and to have my work archived in Hull History Centre and the Bishopgate Archive and for it to be publicly accessible and usable. Projects like this recognise the importance of historical events in locations such as West Hull, and their impact on contemporary culture.”

Alex Costin

I'm a Hull based queer photographer.

I love making photographs of lots of things but have a passion for documenting the drag and trans community.

sceneheard.co.uk

GET INVOLVED

» Have you got a

Scene but not Heard story? We’d love to hear it. » Learn how to collect and record oral histories with our free training - contact us at mail@eofus.co.uk

Photograph

s by Ross Willia

PHOTO:

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ROSS WILLI

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FREE

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A G AVA N ZZA A W

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DRAGAVANZA

» Join Bobby

PHOTO: ROSS WILLIAMS

YOU CAN

Mandrell, The Dreamgirls, and others. 9 August, 4pm till late, Rayners, Hessle Road. FREE

FANNY

YNERS RARA YN SA T ERS - HE

SSLE ROAD 9 AUG 20 . HU3 25 FR OM SU NDA 4PM Y

HESSLE RD , HU3

JUNE 1ST 20

25 - FROM 4P

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@EOFUSHU3 31

A focus on those doing great things in the...

West Hull Community Hub invited EofUs to their 'Warm Welcome'. On arrival we realised that there’s much more on offer than just the welcome. We spoke to some of the group's key members: Carl, Angie, John, Tony, Mike, Heather and Jan. Wow! There’s so many people here - you must be doing something right. What a brilliant atmosphere.

Tony: Yes, it’s great, everyone together having a good time. We offer a free lunch, there’s dominos, crafts and bingo every session before we go home.

People come from across the city but the majority are local from HU3 and HU4. The HUB started in 2021 with 1 table of people and now we get on average 100 people every Thursday! At Christmas we get more. On Christmas day as a one off, we used a Council minibus to collect some people who had no other means of attending. Also local Social Prescribers recommend patients to attend sessions, they quickly become regular members of the HUB family.

Jan: Every week we serve a hot lunch and then tea and cakes. Everyone's here through word of mouth.

Carl: We open two days a week at the moment, the Veterans Group meets on a Wednesday. I imagine if we were to open every day of the week people would come.

Can you describe what’s happening?

Tony: There is no magic formula, we provide a warm space for people to attend, they talk and connect with each other as they eat lunch and share in the various activities.

Carl: We invite local speakers who give interesting talks and we also cover practical issues like debt advice, home safety, scam awareness. We play bingo, we have crafts and tabletop games like Dominos.

Mandy, one of our regulars, even paints people’s nails.

We have a regular entertainer, Mark Kelly, who is well liked. Representatives from Welcome House attended and gave a talk about Asylum Seekers and refugees

and helped us better understand their experiences.

We go on day coach trips together. We’ve been to Scarborough, Flamborough Head, Spurn Point Nature Reserve which was a great interest for our group.

One of the HUB trustees works for Yorkshire Wildlife and arranged for a presentation at the Flamborough wildlife centre [The Living Seas Events Centre].

So what’s for lunch?

Carl: It’s a well known fact that sharing a meal together brings people closer. Today we’ve got ham hock with chips and veg or pasta with tomatoes. The menu choice differs each week, and it’s all free. Our food comes from EMS, a community charity situated on Preston Road. Unfortunately this will end at the end of March as their funding stops. After which we will be cooking the meals ourselves. We get surplus food from Aldi and Sainsburys but mainly Cranswick Foods.

You’re all doing something very special indeed - are you all volunteers?

Mike: Yes, I love the banter with the team and those we serve are always so appreciative. We are all here to help and create a good social supportive space.

We also have specialists come in to support certain needs. You know what I often say? I can’t help but I know someone who can! Since my wife’s passing, becoming part of the volunteer team has been a great source of help to me. I feel I can contribute from my many years of experience working with people. I’m sure I speak for others, we feel of use.

Jan: The volunteers would agree it’s the people who attend that make the warm atmosphere. We’re

RENEW St. Matthew's Church has been the important heart of HU3 for over 150 years. Since its closing in 2013 many have wondered what’s next for it? We went to take a look...

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

creating a feel good factor. It’s good to be with the volunteers and see people respond - of course volunteering works both ways, we too get a great deal of pleasure in being supportive to others.

Tony: It’s an extension of what I did as a vicar - which is all about supporting people. To be of help and bring the community together. On Fridays we provide hot drinks and beans on toast. We don’t get as many attending but we have more time to really get to know one another.

Heather: I’m a primary school teacher - I started two and a bit years ago. The club runs from 10-11.30am on a Saturday. We give everyone a packed lunch, have chats and snacks. We do reading, as well as

homework sheets, English studies and creative stuff.

Yes there’s a focus but we are chilled out. I love it and it’s so rewarding. I’ve known kids that have changed and become more confident, it’s so brilliant. Anyone's welcome from age 4 to 11ish!

Carl: So yes, we’ve put the framework down, but really everyone who turns up makes it what it is. If people want help, we do our best to help, if they have an idea of what to do we try and make it happen. We get good support from the local councillor as well as our MP Emma Hardy. It’s really touching that if a regular attender is missing, people ask where they are, if they are ok. That's the community at work.

WED SERVICE Rather than see this significant building fall into disrepair, the brilliant local charity Giroscope stepped in with an ambitious six year renovation project. We asked the recently appointed St. Matthew's Co-ordinator Meg, and Giroscope’s Co-ordinator Martin, about the opportunities the new St. Matthew's Enterprise Centre offers.

Martin: Most people know us as a housing charity but our work has always been about community. Giroscope’s supported many local social enterprises over the years and St Matthew's was the natural next step, bringing such an important local building back to glory for future needs. So since 2018 we’ve been working hard to achieve that.

Socal values underpin the way we work - we are open, honest and reliable. The method is everything, not the outcome. We are part of the DIY culture, risk tolerant, and do what makes sense, while also empowering others. We are deep rooted, live locally and have a global outlook. We respect heritage and add in the contemporary. At St Matthew’s we wanted to enhance the sense of sanctuary and create a great asset for the community.

Meg: The St. Matthew's Enterprise Centre is now excitingly beginning to be a welcoming hub for small enterprises and a truly unique community and event space. Inside, there's a contemporary first floor mezzanine of stylish

FIND OUT MORE

» Next door to Francis

YOU CAN

Askew School, North Road, HU4 6LQ. www.westhullcommunityhub.org.uk Every Thursday: Warm Welcome including a free lunch. 10:30 to 14:00 Every Friday: Coffee & Chat. 10 - 12 Saturday Club: 4 to 11 year olds

» » »

offices and meeting rooms all within the original stone arches. Underneath, open plan co-working desks are in the central church Nave. And brilliantly the restored memorial west window takes centre stage with its own public viewing gallery.

So what does the future hold?

Meg: Our vision for St. Matthew's is to create a vibrant and inclusive environment for all...a stunning and versatile place to work, meet, showcase and enjoy. We’d love it if people wanted to come in and take a look around so we can show them the transformation and what the space now offers.

YOU CAN

FIND OUT MORE

» Opening Hours.

8.30am – 5.30pm Monday – Fridayy 01482 576 374 visit, enquire about workspace or hire a room Email: megan@ giroscope.org.uk

» » »

@EOFUSHU3 33

HU3 HEALTH SERVICE

MEET THE SCHOOL NURSE

Sam is Chiltern Primary School's nurse. EofUs met her at their weekly 'Chat & Choose' community coffee morning.

My name’s Samantha, but everyone calls me Nurse Sam. My official job title is a School Health Plus Nurse. I am employed by City Health Care Partnership (CHCP), who are an independent health service who provide a wide range of high quality, safe health and care services in and around Hull. One of these services is School Health Plus, which is the team I work in. Chiltern Primary is one of the schools who access this service.

I work in three different primary schools throughout the week and attend Chiltern every Wednesday and Thursday. I work from home throughout the school holidays and provide support throughout the entire year to the families.

HEALTH CHECKS WITH DAWN Dawn is a Social Prescriber who regularly offers health check services at Hull Fishing Heritage Centre. She happily tells us more.

"I regularly attend the Thursday morning “Messdeck Memories” sessions at The Heritage Centre, where fishermen and friends meet and share experiences. As a Social Prescriber in the Health & Wellbeing Team for Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, I support them and their families with a range of healthcare services. I provide healthcare by bringing these services in the mobile van. The services include Boditrax health checks, blood pressure, cholesterol and pre-diabetic checks. I also provide signposting and NHS advice on both mental and physical wellbeing. This is an important service for the community, supporting a valued part of the heritage of the area."

Jerry who runs the Heritage centre says: " It’s a great initiative aimed at people who might be struggling to go to the Doctors, or those who need reassurance. It's informal, but Dawn can also do summat if there’s something going on. Us men always seem to put off getting checks and that’s daft. "

FIND OUT MORE

» Scan the QR CODE or visit: yourhealth.humber.nhs.uk » Contact Dawn: Dawn. turpin1@nhs.net

34 @EOFUSHU3

YOU CAN

I believe school nurses in primary schools are crucial for promoting the overall health and wellbeing of children and young people. We are unique and provide a wide range of services including, health need assessments, individual healthcare plans and overall support for physical and emotional health. We can support early intervention and can identify a health concern, such as developmental delays and mental health issues, at which we can provide timely intervention or referral to specialist services. School nurses also play a vital role in education and support our young people to form healthier habits, hand hygiene, dental health, mental well-being and much more.

We also can help families navigate the complex health system and are able to connect with appropriate resources and liaise professionally. School nurses additionally play a major role in child protection and have a duty of care to safeguard the children and families we work with. Every day is different, and no day is the same.

How do you get into nursing and did you train for the role?

I always wanted to be a nurse from a very young age. My mum has worked as a paramedic for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service for almost 30 years and her passion for patients and caring gave me the drive for healthcare. I initially started at 19, I worked in elderly residential care, adults' mental health and looked after children. I gained several healthcare qualifications before starting my nursing career in 2019 when I attended Hull University and undertook my Bachelor of Science with Honours in Adult Nursing. This was a difficult time to study, 6 months into my degree the pandemic happened. But I continued my degree, and know this is what made me the resilient nurse I believe I am. I worked for 18 months at Hull Royal Infirmary on the vascular surgery ward before applying for the school nurse role.

What do you love about your job?

It’s one of the most rewarding jobs. I love the relationships I have made with the children, families and overall community. It's the little things in this job that make me feel appreciated, such as drawings from children, praise from parents and the recognition from the schools.

What one thing would you advise parents and kids about staying healthy?

Healthier lifestyle choices can be easy and manageable if done correctly. I always encourage families to make sure they enjoy that special family time together, which sometimes I believe can be forgotten about.

Whether it be, eating a healthy home cooked meal at the dining table or a family trip to the local park to get some fresh air. These small daily activities are so important for physical and emotional well-being.

THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK WE GET IS A GOOD MOTIVATOR. IT'S WHAT WE’VE ALWAYS TRIED TO ACHIEVE.

LONG SERVICE

Since 1953 V Richardsons, printers have been based on Madeley Street producing invites, raffle tickets, bingo cards, stationery and the rest. During those times they’ve seen huge changes, but through it all Stephen, Paul and Arlene have kept the presses running. EofUs visited to find out more.

Stephen: Our dad Peter set up the business in 1953. I came into it in about 1969 and then suddenly he died. So from 1970 I went on a steep learning curve. It was a tough time. My Mum continued to do the accounts and the staff stayed and helped. I worked alongside my brother Paul who had been working here since school. His wife Arlene came into the business later. We have been running as the three of us, plus our brilliant staff since then.

We used to print lots of social type tickets and cards like Bullseye and Bus Stop. My Dad would take orders for the social tickets in the week and then on Friday nights would deliver them round the pubs and clubs. But Covid put a stop to lots of older peoples groups and since then we do a lot less. It’s different now.

We still do bingo cards though. These are our bread and butter. We also print business stationery - comp slips and letterheads.

Some firms still have traditional letterpress printed stationery as it gives a different feel to the stationary. But this is becoming less and less as people do it on the computer. The colour laser printer was our death knell!

It does feel like we are the last man standing for commercial, litho, letterpress printing.

Yet we keep finding new ways to make business work. Our work is mostly for trade.

We are also brokers for smaller firms and of course do small runs in the workshop too. We are niche too as we do folding and creasing for special boxes and envelopes.

And we hold lots of choices for people to pick from for their occasion stationary like weddings etc. But undeniably it’s a challenge, people don't send cards and letters like they used to do and the cost at the post office is more. I’m not sure which problem came first!

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM FINDING THE GOOD. IT'S NOT HARD TO LOOK BEYOND THE HEADLINES. WHAT'S THE GOOD YOU SEE? IS THERE A STORY YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE OR A SUBJECT YOU'D LIKE US TO COVER? GET INVOLVED!

YOU CAN

» Website: eofus.co.uk » Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @EofUsHU3 »Email: hello@eofus.co.uk » Don't do technology? Drop your thoughts in at Top Color, Hessle Road

@EOFUSHU3 35

Intrigued by the story of pots made with clay from our local coastline and fired in a bin, EofUs invited Zivarna Murphy to tell us more. And as is often the case, when we choose to listen carefully, there’s richer, more important stories hiding below the surface…

Zivarna: I began playing with clay when I was a teenager in an after school club.

I then took a long break from ceramics while I was studying as I couldn’t find a place (or afford) to practice ceramics.

When I moved to Hull about ten years ago I did a few evening classes and an adult education short course. I made my first textured vessel in 2018 which has developed into what I now make.

The teachers hated them and kept telling me I wasn't doing it properly. But I kept going, experimenting, playing, covered them in oxides and then fired them with salts and seaweed. Then I

discovered they’d been displayed in the college’s main entrance. Those same teachers, after seeing them finished, decided they quite liked my experimenting!

I think there’s a lesson in that story?

Yeah - keep playing and follow what you love doing. But when the course finished I stopped making for a while again as I didn't have access to a kiln.

But you’re making again now - are the pots you are making now different from the early ones the teachers displayed?

Yes and no. They are still hand formed, I push and navigate with the clay, pressing it out from the inside, letting it crack, and I use natural found tools like rocks, fossils and shells to make marks. There’s a careful balance of how much I can push the clay.

I started making again in 2022, when I did a 3-day throwing course in Cornwall. I was trying to find a place where I could fire the bowls I had made and that’s when I found out that Makerspace in the central library had a small kiln and that was the start of me making at home and firing in the

Makerspace. I gained more confidence and then a friend brought a big old kiln at auction and me and my partner helped to set it up and we were lucky enough to be able to do some firings with her and that’s when I started to make a bit bigger. I then started to experiment with other firing methods which is when I started to fire in the back garden in a dustbin after they had their first firing! This was really freeing for me and I loved the unexpectedness of the firing process. Now I have a kiln at home and that gives me the freedom to experiment and play.

What did you study? Did you study ceramics?

I studied Anthropology [the study of what makes us human] and Human Sciences. I do research around the social aspects of body and organ donation. I spend 3 days working on this research and then have time to be creative. The research is tough and emotional but so rewarding. I speak to families and the healthcare staff who look after them and their loved ones to understand what’s working well and what’s not working so well, to understand that hidden work that goes on behind-the-scenes. I have conversations and visit people’s homes and spend time with the families of the people who have donated. I listen.

PHOTO: VICTORIA SMITH

You must meet some fascinating and generous people?

Donor families are such wonderfully giving people and often want to do more to help support the needs of others going through a similar process to them. Families give time and offer their experiences with an aim to understand and improve services.

36 @EOFUSHU3

Staff who work with donors are also keen to talk, they do so much hidden work including lots of emotion management that is often overlooked.

I speak and write papers about what I learn.

I see how these pots are perfect metaphors? Vessels as organs - they fit in the hand perfectly, they weigh heavy like body parts, like a heart.

They are enclosed forms and of course they are made from clay you’re extracting from a body - the land.

Also of course clay holds evidence of time and place and physical forms in the shape of fossils?

It all connects and overlaps for me and I see parallels and metaphors in my research that cross over into my ceramics. For example, I did a residency at Hull Artist Research Initiative (HARI) in a post-industrial building that had been abandoned for many years. I realised the approach to making in response to that space was similar to how I approach my research; I was looking for lost or hidden stories, the unspoken. I saw that the building was holding on and letting go which is a key premise in continuing bonds theory which informs my research around body and organ donation. The places I gather clay from links to this too - in making the ceramics I am holding on to my local landscape even though it's eroding.

Everything you speak of now relates back to the donations. Gifts of oneself to others?

Everything links up for me, I see what i’m researching reflected in the landscape which feeds into what I make with clay. For example I’m using small pieces of clay and beach treasures as natural texture tools that the coast has gifted to me. I’m then using these gifts to form my vessels which hold a memory and connection to the land. I’ve recently been exploring shells drawing upon a common sentiment from organ and body donor family members that they are worried about their loved one being left an empty shell. I wanted to explore what an empty shell is, form it in my hand and think about what is it to be empty.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

ORGAN DONOR SUPPORT

Find out about organ donation, or support that is available if you or someone you know is affected, by visiting some organisations that can help.

ORGAN DONATION

»www.organdonation.nhs.uk BODY DONATION

» www.hta.gov.uk/guidance-public/body-organ-and-tissuedonation/body-donation-medical-schools

CRUSE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

»Hull and East Riding Area »01482 966000 THE SAMARITANS

Listening service if you need someone to talk to (online support also available) Free helpline: 116 123 www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan

» »

DONOR FAMILY NETWORK

Provides a wide range of support to donor families by people who have also experienced donation. www.donorfamilynetwork.co.uk 0845 680 1954

» » So I am exploring many of the same things that come up in my research in my ceramics. I explore donation, gifting, giving and receiving in my ceramic work. The book The Gift by Marcel Mauss is interesting if you want to read more about the power of gifts and was one of the books I read while studying anthropology which has gone on to inform my research. I gift myself time to make ceramics too. I don’t want to go through life with no time for myself. I love walking on the coast and being outside in nature.

ceramics last year as part of the incredible Sound of Our Skin festival coordinated by the Black Heritage of Hull Collective.

Indeed! So how could others start making like you?

I would encourage people to play and try things out, you don’t know until you try it! I understand that ceramics can often be inaccessible and costly, and I too didn’t make for a long time because of this, but there are ways around that like using the small but perfectly formed kiln in Makerspace in the Hull Central Library and like me you could also use some kindly donated sawdust and fire in a bin in your garden!

Identity seems central too?

I do explore my identity, yeah. I wrote a piece called ‘My Brownspace, Your Brownspace’ for the Peaks of Colour nature writing journal which was two poems and images of my connection to and my explorations of the East Yorkshire coastal landscape that inspires my work. This landscape, with all its rugged eroding beauty and brown and black early hues inspires my ceramics. I see the erosion and loss of this landscape as a metaphor for human loss. I was struck by the inequalities in access to the countryside and wanted the poems and my ceramics to display my experiences of my local coastal landscape and encourage people of colour to feel able to explore their local landscapes and use nature to inspire Read the poems and see more images. their artistic and/or peaksofcolour.org/offerings-journal healing practices.

I exhibited these poems and my

KEEP PLAYING AND FOLLOW WHAT YOU LOVE DOING

READ ZIV'S POEMS

»

POTTERY WORKSHOP

YOU CAN

Try your hand at designing and building your own vessel or platter with Zivarna and EofUs. 11 October, 11am, Western Library Garden, Boulevard HU3 3ED. Please let us know you're joining us: hello@eofus.co.uk

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AT A LOSS.ORG

Online site which provides signposting for anyone bereaved and those supporting them. www.ataloss.org

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GOOD-GRIEF

Online grief support community, including an online support group and workshops. good-grief.co.uk

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THE BLACK, AFRICAN & ASIAN THERAPY NETWORK

Independent organisation specialising in working with people who identify as Black, African, South Asian and Caribbean, as well as other people of colour. www.baatn.org.uk

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THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS

Charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care for those who have suffered the death of a child/children. www.tcf.org.uk

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ARTIST SUPPORT

MAKERSPACE

Hosted in Hull Central Library, the space hosts state of the art manual, digital and electronic equipment, skilled staff providing support and workshops, to help people create, invent, explore, learn, think and exhibit. www.hulllibraries.co.uk/makerspace

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WE ARE CREATIVE

A networking organisation for creative practitioners living and/or working in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

IG: __we_are_creative__ FB: We are creative

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HARI

encourages artists to value and share their making processes and research phases. www.hullartist researchinitiative.com

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@EOFUSHU3 37

ISAAC ACHEAMPONG

EofUs met Isaac through his work in Western Library, but we were curious when he spoke about making photographs and a love of dance. EofUs met up with him to find out more…

Isaac: I think my family had typical expectations for me to become a lawyer or doctor…or architect. In hindsight, if I could have my own way, the right guidance and support, I probably would have chosen to pursue music and/or dance. I came to Hull to study architecture, I didn’t pursue it, but still had a yearning for direction and purpose.

Ironically, whilst studying architecture, I lost the ability to draw with confidence. I ended up trying all sorts of opportunities and pursuits, generally trying to better myself. I worked in factories, taught ESOL and freelanced as a creative practitioner, all simultaneously.

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS, WITH AN APPETITE FOR LEARNING AND DISCOVERY

One day, a friend asked if I would consider working alongside him on a project called Libraries Connect, supporting refugees to access library services. We got the job, it was great. We did loads of interesting and often creative work. When the funding eventually ended I applied to become a librarian. The interview was emotional. I presented part of a poignant project called "When Elephants Fight” which is from an African saying, “When Elephants Fight, The Grass Suffers”. The proverb is about how the innocent suffer in wars. I presented a story about how our project had helped to reunite family members who had lost each other during the chaos of the air raids on Hull, in WW2.

I’ve always been curious, with an appetite for learning and discovery. A bit of a nerdy geek.

One of my many nicknames as a small child was Book Man. Part of my childhood and teens was spent growing up on a rough council estate in south London. If I’d hung out there, I'd have been ‘swallowed up’. I could now be dead or in prison. Kids got into bad stuff there.

There was lots of racism. My older brother had been attacked. Our flat was near Millwall Stadium. If anyone knows the reputation of Millwall in the 1980s, you can imagine the fear and tension, especially on match days with hoards of fans marching past our flat.

When did you start taking photos?

I loved exploring London, probably as an escape from the estate. I’d tell my family I was going to the library and then I'd go often with a sketchbook and camera. I’d visit all sorts of places like the National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Photographers Gallery... I remember once getting lost on a notorious north London estate as the sun was setting and everywhere seemed like a cul de sac or dead end. It felt like I’d never get out. It was scary! My first camera was a 110 format camera. Then as my interest developed I got my first 35mm SLR

38 @EOFUSHU3

Praktica. During my O and A levels I started attending political protests and rallies, antiapartheid rallies, anti-racism rallies (once, I inadvertently found myself at a far-right national front rally in east London!). I also used to frequent Battersea Arts Centre to use their darkrooms, and I had a job in Jessops. I met other photographers, some mentors and learnt good techniques.

Around the turn of the Millenium, I applied to the Millennium Commission to travel to Ghana for three months to spend time with the artisan fishing community in Elmina.

Elmina is a town which has one of the largest slave forts in Africa. Part of the project was a comparative documenting of Elmina’s artisan fishing industry, with what remained of Hull’s more industrialised fishing industry.

The work became a project called ‘Fish is Fish’ – a sort of metaphor that means ‘we are all human’. I was fortunate to be funded to go twice more to Ghana, to research music and dance, and then to document Ghana’s links with the transatlantic slave trade. The southern coastline of Ghana, and many African countries, are riddled with slave forts, all in various states of repair and disrepair. I visited and documented most of these and I interviewed many groups of people; Local Ghanaians; people from the global African diaspora, Europeans, asking them all to reflect on ideas of Freedom. I learnt so much, especially about ideas of belonging.

Did it make you question your sense of belonging?

I'm often not sure if I truly belong anywhere.

Even though I was born and grew up as a young child in Ghana, I’m often seen there as an outsider - an insider/outsider! In Hull, I also often feel like an outsider, even though I’ve lived here for almost 40 years. Belonging is a complex phenomenon. It can be safe, comfortable, but it can also be stifling, as if you, or your identity are owned. I think this might be common for diaspora communities - you feel you belong somewhere but not necessarily where you are. You are often reminded about whether you belong, or not.

WALK & TALK

YOU CAN

Join EofUs to see more of Isaac's work at Wilberforce House Museum.

27 November, 10am leaving from Chilterm Community Hub. Please let us know you're joining us: hello@eofus.co.uk

»

LEARN MORE

» Elmina and Slave

History of Ghana.

Scan the code to watch

Outside Elmina fort, life is as normal as it can be, with people fishing or working. The businesses, be they taxis or fishermen all have these proverbs and sayings as brand names. Often, they’re religious, like ‘Jesus is King’ or ‘Praise the Lord’. ‘Who is Free?’ is a trading name too. I saw the boxes stacked up and knew I wanted to take a photo. A young boy was helping and just walked by carrying rope. It was perfect, the right place, the right time, the right gaze. There’s a funny story with this photo. I was asked to send a selection of photos for a group exhibition at Tate Modern. I’d managed to whittle down hundreds of images to a selection of 13. I thought 13 was unlucky so, I added this one and it’s the one they chose, becoming my most ‘famous’ photo!

This photo of tourists looking through “The Gate of No Return” was taken at Elmina slave fort. It’s the doorway slaves were sent through after being chained and processed, all before being put on boats and then gone forever, never to return, stripped of their names, identities, from their families, communities, societies, dignity…everything. Experiencing the slave forts is truly shocking.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

ISAAC ACHEAMPONG

The two men facing-off was from the period of attending political marches and rallies. It’s the Poll Tax March, in London in 1990, which quickly turned into a riot. There was a lot of violence and destruction; bricks, sticks, stones, words, bottles, missiles, horses, batons, shields, fires, smoke…and I just seemed to run through it all. I was swept up by it and I didn't feel any fear. Perhaps I was left alone because I had a camera. I wasn’t police. I wasn’t rioting.

I didn’t belong to either side.

I was a photographer. I guess this speaks to the freedom you have if you don’t belong, to either side, to a tribe, to a clique, or to a fixed, rigid, singular identity.

@EOFUSHU3 39

“DO YOU KNOW THE PRICE OF FISH?”

It’s 1999 and a young student is feeling slightly intimidated about going into Rayners. Helen Dalgairns has an idea in mind to film and ask regulars some questions about the fishing community.

The film opens with shaky, handheld, camera shots that scan newspaper cuttings - then the signage above the door to the pub - then inside, the memorial boards to lost trawlers - paintings of ships - the street names of the area sign written onto the walls.

Helen finds that once inside the pub, everyone is very open to talking. When I met Helen in 2024, we picked up that one of the interviewees compares the heyday of Hessle Road to Whitefriargate, at the time the benchmark for a bustling street in Hull. We thought about present day Whitefriargate and the amount of inactive shops there - and how Hessle Road has more commerce about it and family businesses that have lasted. How there’s still a wonderful comingand-going about the place.

BACK TO BRANSHOLME The teams at Back to Ours and Chat Shop in North Point, Bransholme, showcased the 'Untethered' photographs of George Norris earlier this year. While there, we got talking about the Bransholme/HU3 link and all the amazing things Back to Ours do…

So Lou what is Back to Ours?

We are a community led arts and cultural organisation. It started during City of Culture and it's now a charity that works with local people to put arts and culture right on people's doorsteps.

Bransholme Chat is a project led by a resident steering group, based in North Point Shopping Centre and is funded by National Lottery Community Fund. It’s a shop where you don't need to buy anything, you pop in for a chat and it's through chatting that people come together, especially people who are feeling lonely and isolated. For some people it's been a lifeline.

Why is it important for the community to see art and culture in Bransholme?

Art and culture is for everyone and it plays a huge part in all of our lives. It brings people together. Sometimes its hard for people

to be able to access quality arts and culture. It shouldn’t be. So when George brought his exhibition here people were immediately interested from the moment he walked through the door. He’s a talented photographer with a really interesting background. A lot of regulars in the shop actually remembered him from growing up on Hessle Road. George wanted to chat to everyone and people had lots of questions about his work. There were no barriers and that’s really important. George spent time with people and people could recognise themselves in him. It was then that they connected with his work. We had lots of people coming in that wanted to talk about their connection to HU3 or their connection to the gypsy/traveller community. The exhibition got people talking and that for us is a huge success.

Can you tell us about the HU3 and Bransholme connection?

A lot of families moved to Bransholme in the 60’s and 70’s from HU3 and some still have family in HU3. As houses were knocked down on Hessle Road families came to the estate and moved into new homes with a garden and indoor toilets! It’s talked about a lot in the shop, how the houses here were initially like paradise, but many people missed the Hessle Road community and their family and friends. One thing that comes up a lot is what it was like to grow up on Hessle Road as a child with happy memories of larkin out ‘on road’ and the many local characters.

EofUs in conversation with BTO director Louise Yates.

The film was part of her HND in Creative Studies course at Hull College in 1999. The film was shown at Park Street College in Hull, amongst some illustrated North Sea fish.

We part with questions. Will anyone know the people who were interviewed in the film? Did an amount of compensation ever come to pass? How can we hold onto traces of the past as we move through all this changing stuff?

The Aimless Archive

WATCH

Scan the QR code to watch the film

YOU CAN

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VISIT THE SHOP

YOU CAN

Back to Ours & the Chat Shop 5 Goodhart Road, Bransholme, Hull HU7 4EE backtoours.co.uk

» »

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US Come to Tea commissioned Layla Jabbari to draw in cafes across HU3. She produced beautiful prints in response.

LAYLA JABBARI

HU3 COME TO TEA

HU3 Come to Tea was always intended to be a food festival with a difference. Usually food festivals are events lasting a day or a weekend - involving a single location with food vans and offers with pricey menus, and some form of entertainment on the side. The success of a food festival is normally measured in revenue created, and numbers attending. Come to Tea’s aim was to do something relevant and important in HU3, so our food festival can’t really be reported or quantified in the same way.

@EOFUSHU3 41

SOME OF THE BEST BITS

We worked in pop-up street locations, showcasing local shops, restaurants, community groups and HU3 art and performance that incorporated food. We took healthy, locally-produced food to places where people are. We invited everyone to try new things - whether that be food, or new places to eat. We encouraged food offers to coalesce and become part of something bigger. We unearthed, connected, activated and celebrated the food and human potential of the area."Adam HU3 Come To Tea was a mini food festival with a difference. Created by and for the community it ran for an intensive two weeks last July. Across multiple sites, with much support from local businesses, cooks and suppliers, it was led by Ruby Deverell, Tom Robinson, Adam Hawley and Kate Genever from EofUs.

A massive thanks to all the volunteers, businesses, organisations, photographers and individuals who supported, cooked, served, ate, chatted, chopped, washed up, knitted, performed and generally just got down with the whole Come to Tea idea. We appreciate your time, generosity and resources.

Someone summed it up perfectly: “Im proud of HU3, it just shows what we can do when we come together”.

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LAYLA JABBARI

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

WHAT WE DID

NHS Meal Deal was a collaboration between, WANT, Time Out Sandwich Shop and Giroscope’s Cooking project, to provide healthy delicious lunches to NHS staff at Royal Infirmaries front gate. They sold out in 30 mins!

Breakfast Club at Gordon Street was supplied with W.A.N.T helpers and homemade granola and Conquest of Bread Sourdough in support of this Gordon St institution A special Cook and Share session at Chiltern took celebration as its theme and included: Ruta’s Mimosa tuna salad eaten on Christmas Eve; Nirmala’s Mushroom Biryani and Raita served during Diwali: Ayse’s Turkish Chicken Donner, Pitta and Hummus...and much more deliciousness!

Flower Club with a difference at Rayners - Tommy taught us how to make pumpkin based arrangements using vegetables and fruits, like sprouts and oranges, alongside the brightly coloured flowers One of many installations in retail spaces across the area brought art to where people are. An exhibition at Winfields Outdoors included photographs of food places in Japan, prints about coffee production and Instax photos taken on Springbank.

Spanish Breakfast at Graham's Fruit and Veg shop. This was originally conceived for Walton Street Car Boot but the market said no! So after a stint at Chiltern Primary School’s Beach Day, it moved to the pavement outside Graham’s. The fresh sourdough and tomatoes with sea salt and extra virgin olive oil was a win with passerbys Serving Suggestions were brilliant daily social-media posts on @cometoteahu3 featuring the perfect pairing of food and tune. Joe Dent was the DJ and chef in great collaboration with Darren from Disc Discovery. A publication is available in the record shop and are well worth having.

Free chips, patties and ‘make a Mr Potatohead’ created a good Chippy Tea gathering at Halfway Pub. Heritage Fisheries sponsored the event and helped 50+ people enjoy a different kind of Friday night - together!

W.A.N.T. Cookout at Rayners saw Ruby and Vaughn cook up and share a special storm of gorgeous food, using locally sourced and surplus ingredients, to pub regulars and visitors. All for a 'pay what you can' price Afternoon Tea at Constable Street Allotment.

Gardeners, locals and those new to the patch enjoyed the sun, the setting and delicious treats including cherry scones from Bread Buns Galore, fresh strawberries and cream. Nom nom.

The Sweet Dreams theatre booth pooped up across HU3. The host 'Psyche' invited one and all to share a dream, in return for a surreal apple surprise.

Jodi and the sewing crew at Groundworks led the creation of a giant picnic blanket, which became the centre point for games and food, cooked by Maryam, Adam and Mynel, at the Giant Picnic Finale in West Park.

COOK & SHARE

YOU CAN

» Cook a favourite dish to share at

Chiltern Community Hub. 9 October, 2pm

FLOWER CLUB

» This month we'll focus on Autumn and Halloween. Get in touch to book your place. 7 November, 4pm. Rayners Pub

MORE PHOTOS

»IG: @cometoteaHU3 @EOFUSHU3 43

GRAF

For four decades Graffiti artists have been rebelling, marking and creating beautiful, complex and often psychedelic pieces across Hull in hidden, derelict and sometimes authorised places. This special subculture created a Graffiti style unique to this city. So when a new mural on the side of Lonsdale Community Center emerged, EofUs met up with creator Louis Dorton aka “Mike Sprout”, centre manager Dave Coates and trustee Liz Shepherd to find out more...

VISIT THE NEW MURAL

Lonsdale Community Centre, Walton St Leisure Centre car park

SEE MORE

Check out Louis/Mike Sprout's work Instagram: @mike_sprout

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GET CREATIVE

Graf workshop with Mike Sprout 7 October, 3.30pm.

Boulevard School

»

YOU CAN

LD: Hull’s got an idiosyncratic scene that reflects the city’s isolation, especially the stuff from the 80’s and 90’s, it's all home cooked even though it's connected in many ways to other cities and countries. Hull graff community is pretty close knit, ranging from early pioneers like Leebo, Paris, Ekoe, Pinky, Spam, Ziml, Perv and this has grown into loads of other amazing artists. There's nothing better than looking through old photos.Their work still pushes the Hull scene, which is what the Live Like Legends exhibition at Humber Street Gallery last summer did by celebrating the last 40 years. The finale to this celebration was the repainting of the wall at Lonsdale. We’ve explored the wall's history and brought in lots of folks to help from old-school to new graffiti artists, muralists, kids, Co-operation Hull and Lonsdale community groups. It’s been about collaboration and various art styles! Which has resulted in a jam-packed, colourful extravaganza! For example planet earth is there with

outer-space and an alien on a skateboard, comets, flying saucers, an astronaut and a bright sun. There’s lots of local references too - Hull Fair, wrestling, cricket, Boothferry Park, the stadium, a tiger and an Airlie bird. Add to that lots of hopeful slogans like ‘I am a citizen of Earth’, ‘Revolution not Reform’, and ‘All Mums Are Boss’..... And you’ve got it! It’s been so much fun - it's pretty mad, loads crammed in but we pulled it together I think!

LS: Originally we painted it in the 1980s with kids from the area and artists. I feel proud that we encouraged the creation of an artwork by people. We got some criticism but it did look better.

LD: It then got painted again in the 90’s and again in the 2000’s, but only the bottom half, which means one original piece has survived till now because you need scaffolding to get to it!

LS: Yes, ha, that bit at the top was by a fella who came from Scotland who was late arriving - it was the only space left! The lower part then got covered in insulation and stayed cream colour for the last 10 years. I’m proud to have supported everything over the years.

DC: The finished work is absolutely fantastic, combining as it does the energy and pulse of the community centre and the diverse groups we support. Feedback from locals has been overwhelmingly positive, we are so pleased.

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

IT!

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SPOT THE GRAF

Louis and the HAGRU [Hull Archeological Graffiti Research Unit] crew have also been exploring the old and ancient vandalism left on different surfaces in various sites across Hull. You know that type of graffiti etched, cut or just plain scratched into urban surfaces. HAGRU’s findings include 1920's brick etchings, relics of extinct 80's graffiti spots and medieval church graffiti.

4 YOU

EofUs has been looking high and low for “Scratch Graf” and other marks in HU3.

Marks made by people who want to express themselves, tell a story or claim their place.

DO THE TRAIL

3

CAN

Below is some of what we’ve found - can you spot them too?

1 Mural, Lonsdale Community Centre 2 Running woman, Anlaby Rd 3 Triple Trawler Tragedy, Hessle Rd 4 Headscarf Revolutionaries, Anlaby Rd 5 Dead Bod - Criterion Pub, Hessle Rd 6 Words, container, Bean St 7 Scratched walls, Scrap Store, Woodcock St 8 Venn Boulevard Centre, Boulevard

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IT’S ABOUT ALL OF US

5

Have you seen the new mural in the Venn Boulevard Centre on Boulevard? No, then why not do a detour because it’s rather special, having been designed and created by students in collaboration with Ollie from Friends on Every Street. We were lucky to hear from him and some of the young artists involved

Share what you find at @eofushu

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“I’ve been painting graffiti in Hull since I was about 14-15 and I got into it at school. We are very lucky in our area to have a graffiti heritage and spaces to paint, it’s a special place. So being able to offer young people the opportunity would have been something I’d have loved as a kid”. Ollie “People should look at the mural and see how it makes them feel, I hope it makes them feel happy.” Micheal “When people walk past it, it can put a smile on people’s faces because before it was a plain, boring, white wall and we have made it look better. We’ve created a beautiful piece of art.” Blake

FIND OUT MORE

8

YOU CAN

» Ollie: @friendsoneverystreet

Venn Boulevard Centre is an alternative provision with special school designation. www.vennboulevard centre.org.uk

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@EOFUSHU3 45 @EOFUSHU3 45

WE BELIEVE IN LOVE, NOT LUCK

For over a year EofUs artist investigator Kate Genever worked with photographer Tony Ward from Top Color, and eighteen HU3 people on a project called We believe in love not luck. The resulting portraits and captured life histories were showcased on, and in, multiple venues across the area. All the images and words shared on the EofUs website and in a final publication for everyone to read and enjoy.

The project began as an exploration into the maritime tattoos seen on many of the area's older men. It developed into a process of collecting the visible and invisible marks people carry; marks that represent identity, struggle, love and history. All of the eighteen folks included are connected to the Hessle Road area. Their lives are shaped by being there, forged as part of the community’s long but changing docklands history. Some came from families who, for generations, have lived and worked there. Others arrived more recently, with all contributing to this area’s rich docklands heritage.

In the last issue we focused on all the people involved and Tony’s photos. This time we share the large platters, created by Kate in response to the portraits, made for a grand finale Chippy Tea...an event held in Rayners with delicious chips and patties, supplied by Heritage Fisheries, and musical accompaniment

by HU3 musicians Clare and Martin.

“It was so nice to get most of the eighteen people together, because we’ve been working with them as individuals. Many folks knew one another, some met for the first time, which meant there was catching up, laughing and getting to know stuff. It was also the first time most had seen the platters finished, so seeing their reactions was great.

SEE MORE

YOU CAN

» See large scale photo portraits and the platters in Central Library over the summer » Visit: eofus.co.uk/portraits to view all the posters » Explore the project publication in Western, Central and Gypsyville Library » Request to view the project archive at Hull History Centre

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF US

EXPLORING HENNA YOU

DID

At our Henna workshop at Chiltern Community Hub, we learned that Henna is a reddish dye prepared from the dried and powdered leaves of the Henna tree and has been used for centuries across many continents as a hair and body dye. The temporary tattoos known as Mehndi in South Asian cultures - are designed and drawn mostly by women and result in stained skin that lasts for a few weeks.

We made our Henna from different dyes to create different depths of colour and then drew directly onto each other's hands and arms. After leaving the Henna to dry we washed it off and enjoyed each other's designs, knowing these final results would last for about two weeks.

This creative social gathering helped us learn too about different cultural designs and practices. We spoke about the best artists, where to buy the best Henna and when it is used, be that everyday or for parties and weddings.

Thanks to: Vicky, Aysa, Zayna, Aliina, Tsega, Amara, Maka all under the guidance of Maryann.

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Sometimes you gotta be your own lover Mother significant other Grab your own outstretched hand, pull yourself up and blink back the water Stand a little taller Smooth down your crumpled clothes, clench your trembling jaw and stop staring down at your shoes at the floor You don’t belong down there And don’t let ‘em tell you You do ‘Cause they’re wrong they’re wrong they’re wrong they’re all wrong Lift your head my love, tilt it up to the sky See that big yellow circle hanging up high?

That’s you You are sunshine

By Carla Mellor, a Yorkshire born and based poet with strong ties to Hull and the surrounding areas.

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POETRY WORKSHOP

Explore ideas at a family friendly poetry workshop with Vicky Foster.

2 October, 3.30pm, Western Library. Please let us know you're joining us: hello@eofus.co.uk

»

MORE ABOUT CARLA

»IG: @poetry_for_the_people

READ

Carla's debut poetry collection 'SCRAPS' Available from Wrecking Ball Music and Books, 15 Whitefriargate, HU1 2ER

»

YOU CAN