Blue plaque honour for Headscarf Revolutionary

A blue plaque will be installed at the former home of one of Hull's famous Headscarf Revolutionaries.

Yvonne Blenkinsop, who lived on Sunningdale Road in Hessle, took on the might of the UK fishing industry and government alongside three other women, fighting for safety improvements following the 1968 Triple Trawler Tragedy that claimed 58 lives.

Hessle Town Council said it was approached by the group Headscarf Pride with the idea of installing a blue plaque. Officials said the plaque would be formally approved at a council meeting.

Councillor David Nolan said: "This is honouring, from the point of view of Hessle, one of ours who did a lot of work towards trawler safety."

He added: "Let us remember this is about the safety following the tragic triple trawler disaster, and Yvonne's work and [that of] others to make it safer for the fleets. We're recognising that with this plaque."

Nolan said he had been approached by a private donor who is willing to pay for part of the plaque.

Ian Cuthbert, founder of Headscarf Pride, said: "Recognition for those women has been my passion for over a decade and I will carry on shouting their names from the highest rooftops for as long as I'm able to."

Steve Richardson, one of Blenkinsop's neighbours, said: "Whenever they talk about the trawler campaign, they always mention Yvonne and the other ladies. So, yes, it would be a nice little fitting touch."

Jerry Thompson, from The Hull Fishing Heritage Centre, was onboard Hull trawler Ian Fleming, which ran aground off the north Norwegian coast in 1973.

As part of their campaigning, the Headscarf Revolutionaries fought to ensure there was a radio operator on every trawler. He believes the radio operator, who died in the incident, "definitely saved his life" by getting the mayday call out.

He added that it would "mean a great deal" for Blenkinsop to be commemorated in a blue plaque.

"These ladies saved a lot of lives through their actions," he said.

A blue plaque was unveiled in 2022 in Coltman Street in Hull on the wall at the former home of Lillian Bilocca, who led the group.

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