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A BRONZE statue commemorating the memory of thousands of Hull fishermen who were lost at sea during the past 100 years, which was stolen a month ago, will be replaced next year, the city has pledged.
The six foot high monument sculpted in the shape of a lone male figure was almost certainly stolen because of the current high value of scrap metal. A gift from the Icelandic community of Vik with which the Humber has close links, many people in the city expressed their revulsion after the theft. There was similar shock in Iceland that such a sacred monument could be stolen.
The British Fishermens Association said the statue - known simply as Voyage - meant a lot to its members and a spokesman appealed to the conscience of the thieves.
Although two men have been arrested in connection with the incident, it is still missing despite a £1,500 reward for its safe return. The money was put up by the families of two men who died at sea and a fishing author.
Hull's Lord Mayor Colin Inglis, who called the theft "an assault upon the traditions and culture of this city", said there was money available to fund a replacement statue. He said: "Fortunately, there is an identical memorial in Iceland and we can take a mould from that and replace what was stolen." But it will probably be the New Year before that happens, he added. The statue stood on part of Hull's Victoria Pier, which is unprotected at night. The problem with replacing any new statue is how to prevent it from another theft in the future, especially if the price of scrap metal keeps on rising.
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