Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 09:13 PM

The man who was in charge of the traffic / roads system in and around Hull in the 1980s when all the current system was planned never held a driving licence or drove a car (the two are not necessarily incompatible).

I spent the first 50+ years of my life in Hull, love the place, but can understand the frustrations that people from elsewhere feel. Having said that most places are the same where the people that do get on with it and those that don't sit on the council.

We spent a couple of hours plus at the event on Sunday and really enjoyed ourselves but I did have the advantage of local knowledge.

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: r.padgett
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 01:10 AM

Well there you go

Arrange in haste, repent at leisure

Ray

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 03:40 AM

Malcolm - what bugged me more than anything else is that when I had finally managed to find a part of Hull that I recognised (and knew the way to the marina from), then walked across town to the marina, there was no good reason for the road to be closed.
If they had put fairground rides, or market stalls on it, I could understand the closure. What we had was an empty dual carriageway with anti-cross barriers along the length of it. The only places you could cross were at the traffic light controlled pedestrian crossings, so as someone on foot you were in essentially no different situation than if the traffic was flowing normally and occasionally stopping for a red(traffic) light.
In other words - three hours wasted for no good reason.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 08:36 AM

Yes Geoff, and I assume that the reason that we were drinking out of plastic glasses in the Minerva had the same origin - Humberside Police. What a bunch of pillocks!

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 05:03 PM

Geoff and others.
Regardless of the road system planning problems created by the partially sighted designers, Castle Street is quite rightly closed off due to the sheer numbers of people trying to cross on one or two crossings which is patently dangerous on such a fast road with heavy traffic. The daftest part was not rerouting traffic properly, but hey, we've all been down that 'detour' that peters out into a dead end or sends you 50 miles out of your way.

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Tyke
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 11:19 PM

Well with hindsight I think I would be right in saying that the End of the financial year prevents too much pre planning and commitment by Local Governments until the finances for the new financial year are sorted out.

On top of that I would speculate that the 2010 elections in May would have caused further problems. With a sorry you can't cut the funding of my traffic management department because we can't cope as it is! Ringing in our ears.

It would seem easy to forget that the Minerva was struggling to survive in its recent past. As for the Loud disco music blasting across the Marina to make it sound like, to some, the place to be. Giving the impression that it a vibrant and popular attraction providing employment opportunities to the people of Hull whilst contributing to the councils coffers by way of business rates.

How can Hulls International Shanty Festival show the council just how popular it is?
Well I know it tong in cheek name but advertising the Famous Anti-Shanty Session could be seen as well we don't like Sea Shanty's. Why not change its name to Songs Ashore? How about a Photography Challenge that shows the faces of tourists and locals enjoying a wonderful day at Hulls International Shanty Festival. Make sure the Councillors see with there own eyes what an asset to Hull the Festival is!

Oh and if possible Book the Ex London Steam Tug the Challenger for the Festival! Birth her so the Smoke from its Funnel heads towards the Disco and between Shanty Sets and let her demonstrate just what a Bass Note Sounds like. I guarantee the Disco King will turn off his smoke machine after Blowing out his Speakers trying to compete! But just in case the wind changes direction turn of the Smoke Detectors in the Green Bricks and the Minerva. :-)

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: r.padgett
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 07:08 AM

Keep the Shanty Festival separate

Clearly savings and disruptions caused short sighted Hull Council decided to kill 2 birds with one stone

Result killed the Shanty event

2 events, two opportunties for Hull to enjoy itself amd make everyone happy

Or organise properly and learn from the disruption

Ray

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Tyke
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 09:36 AM

Hi Ray are you saying that the Shanty Festival had an advers effect on The Saddleworth Festival? Or are you realy saying you would have liked to have been able to go to the Hull Shanty Festival?

I would have loved to have been able to go to ether event or both. Having been to both in the past I can say that they were both great festivals.

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: ossonflags
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 11:29 AM

HUll Shanty festival certainly was not killed Ray!!!

There was a few problems agreed; but that did not detract from us all having a damn good time. The organizers did not know the state of funding until very late on and this caused them no small problems.

I and the rest of Owd Chyvers was booked to sing there so I can speak with a certain amount of authority on this subject as I was there for the whole two day and one night events.

People need to keep in mind some of the more positive parts of the festival.

Friday night in The White hart was at its usual high standard with many guests and non guests making the rafters roar with Shanty jack as MC.

Saturday was very busy agreed, with a projected 80, 000 people around the Marina.
The traffic control around Castle Street was a pain for some but this had to happen for the safety of all having to cross a busy arterial road.

Regarding publicity a bit thin on the ground admittedly but what was different to other years? .

Saturday morning BBC Radio Humberside gave great coverage to all the events. We and other booked artists did spots on that station as well as interviews.

Excellent programmes and running orders for the maritime were available free to everyone at the Hospital radio stage.

The area back of main stage was noisy but there was a fair sized audience who stayed, listened and enjoyed to what was on offer.

All the venues were well attended, Barge Amy Howsen, Ruscadors,, Green bricks and Minerva was the indoor locations and again we played most of those on the both days and did not have any problems .John Connolly did tell me the Green bricks was hard work!!!

Sunday was a much quieter day with a great response on the open air stage and all venues. We finished our session at 5.00pm but some carried on until seven o'clock. Even the weather stayed reasonable!

All people I talked to; performers, visitors and Hull people all said what a great weekend it was...

Oh just a bit on the plastic glasses, this has been common practice at busy times in Hull pubs for a couple of years now. Even though I like me drink out of a glass I can see the reasoning behind the use of poycarbonate glasses. If you have seen some one glassed in the face- as I have seen – you know that keeping glass out of the way is a small price to pay.

This is an article from The Hull Mail:

Dozens of serious eye injuries have been prevented since the introduction of plastic glasses, the Mail can reveal.

Polycarbonate glasses were rolled out in Hull in May 2008 when eye surgeons were treating 20 glass attack victims a year.

But since the campaign launch, led by Humberside Police and NHS Hull, not one person has needed eye surgery as the result of a glassing.

The campaign has saved the primary care trust more than £7.2 million a year in surgery.

Each eye operation costs the health service and taxpayer £184,000.

Paul Laing, public health lead from NHS Hull, said: "This project has had a massive impact on reducing alcohol-related harm in Hull.

"It has resulted in savings to the NHS of approximately £7.2 million over the two years this has been in force through the reduction in ophthalmic operations.

"Before 2008 one of our eye surgeons was the busiest in the country, performing 20 operations a year for glass attack victims alone.

"But these operations have been eliminated and since May 2008 the department has had no admissions from this type of attack.

"Glassing attacks do still happen and still need to be reduced, however, from a health perspective, these incidents have not resulted in significant eye injuries leading to surgery."

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Les from Hull
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 12:43 PM

I don't mind the polycarbonate glasses, it's them squishy ones we had in the Minerva. It's a pain to walk back from the bar through a crowded pub with two full pints (it's a wonder they're aren't more accidents!). And of course the Hull Shanty Festival is infamous for its extreme violence (not)!

George, the expression Anti-Shanty was coined to cover the additional Saturday night singaround we've had for the last fifteen or more years to cater for those who don't want to go to the official concert, but would rather have the chance to keep singing their own stuff. It's called that 'cos we don't insist on a maritime theme, although many singers will continue with that theme 'cos it's what brought them here ibn the first place. In other words - it's a joke!

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: r.padgett
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 01:04 PM

No no KILL was used as adescription to say that Hull council had put two events together to save money ~ [I thought!!!]

Clearly as I wasnt there cannot comment with authority so apologies if this isnt correct [shut up padgett lol]


Clearly Mick the shanty events despite problems was highly succesful

Some ppl would have gone to original dated Hull Shanty now Maritime fest(later on) or

Bradfield/Mansfield/Saddleworth now just finished

However the original gripe was a generalisation covering many things happening all at once in the whole of Yorkshire!!

We do have a finite audience and festivals in my view are in danger of forcing out folk clubs! (separate topic chaps)

I was annoyed at the awful communications in place ~ Hull being one of many suffering

Ray

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: ossonflags
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 01:22 PM

Les - my point on the glasses issue was to clarify the use of them in Hull.
I have been long enough on the scene to know folkies are not noted for knocking lumps of one another.

However,as you know , I also have experience of the other side of Hull city centre and the violence that can erupt when drink is in and wits out.

Thanks for that Ray, accepted mate.

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Pistachio
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 03:33 PM

So, first weekend in September? What time and where, exactly??.

Should have a chance to escape as the fitba' season should've kicked off by then!! Yippee,.....
B*##^r,
I just checked and Hull has that weekend off!.... Anyway, maybe I can head into town for some 'shopping'??

What a great summer! So much to do, and I must concentrate on resting the old vocals for a week or three, Holland beckons!

See you whenever,
Hazel.x

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Tyke
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 08:54 PM

Hi Les yes I know Calling the Saturday Night Session Anti Shanty is a Joke! That is why I said it was a Tong in Cheek Name I also know what a good session it is. I'm in complete agreement with Ossonflags about concentrating on the Positive. So to make it quite clear! Everyone is made welcome by Everyone at the Anti Shanty, (The name is a Joke), Session it is best described as a gathering of Good Friends who enjoy playing and singing together. I'm not sure who is to blame for this right good night but I suspect it is Les and Maggie.

As for the Squishy Beer Glasses carrying of I favour cutting Holes in the skins of Borans and Banjos to fit these Squishy Beer Glasses in to prevent spillages when carrying drinks from the Bar!

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: ossonflags
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 03:16 AM

Still concentrating on the positive George, no one to blame for Saturdays "reet good night " unless that means a collective blame for throughly enjoying us selves!!!!!,

and I would extend a well deserved and massive thank you to all for their excellent contributions at all the Minerva singaround sessions at the festival.

Subject: RE: Hull Maritime Festival 17-18 July, 2010
From: Tyke
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 09:50 AM

I still think the blame lies mainly with Les and Maggie, Mick! They have been sneeking around quietly encouring people to hang about in Public Houses for Years to sing and play. Now not content with having us all miss spend our youth they are picking on the elderly as well. Fun is Fun but its about time they owned up to their missdeeds!

Well I must get back to attaching my Mark One Boran Beer tray to my Zimmer Frame.