A film shot in Goole more than 50 years ago will be the highlight of Goole Civic Society’s annual general meeting later this month.
‘The Port of Goole’ shows the town at work and play in the mid-1960s, with scenes of the docks, shipyards, canal and rail networks, town centre and suburbs. It was produced by Goole and District Junior Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Danbrit Shipping.
The Civic Society is issuing an open invitation to anyone interested in the town to come to the meeting and find out more about the society’s work.
The last year has been a busy one for the society, starting with the award of a plaque from the retiring Mayor of Goole, Coun Ian Blackburn, to thank members for their work on behalf of the town, particularly the Reuben Chappell Art Trail and the town's first Blue Plaque, honouring Percy Jeeves, the inspiration for author PG Wodehouse's "Gentleman's Gentleman" Jeeves.
Then followed the launch of the illustrated booklet ‘50 Fascinating Facts About Goole’, produced entirely by society members and sponsored by the Coastal Communities Fund and East Riding Council.
In June the society ran the Big Goole Quiz and Treasure Hunt, produced in conjunction with the Goole Times to mark national Civic Day. This won the society recognition from the national civic body, Civic Voice, and members were invited to the House of Commons to receive a certificate recognising their achievement in public engagement.
The society also ran a ‘Design a Postcard’ competition and four winning entries were turned into postcards launched at the town’s Beach Day.
In September Goole was proud to host a gathering of representatives from some of the 40 societies belonging to the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies, where the Mayor of Goole, Coun Terence Smith, joint owner of the Lowther Hotel, Julie Duckworth, and the Chair of the Friends of West Park, Georgina Petty, spoke about their pride in Goole and their efforts to make the town a better place to live and work in.
The society has also campaigned to preserve and enhance the character of Aire Street, the oldest part of the original port of Goole, dating from the 1820s, and produced a leaflet giving guidance on Conservation Areas.
Currently society members are busy recording people’s memories of Goole in a public history project funded by East Riding Council 2017 Active Creative Grants, in support of Hull UK City of Culture 17. The aim is to tell Goole’s unique story to a wider audience and change people’s perceptions of the town.
A film and other material from the project will form part of the town’s Festival of Water in October.
The Chair of Goole Civic Society, Margaret Hicks-Clarke, said: “We are a fairly small but extremely active group of people who are passionate about promoting Goole and making it a place everyone can be proud of.
“We are always keen to attract new members and anyone who comes to the agm will be given a warm welcome.”
The annual general meeting will be held at 7.15pm on Wednesday, April 26th at the Lowther Hotel in Aire Street, Goole.
If anyone has memories to share for the public history project, please get in touch by emailing goolecivicsociety@gmail.com or telephoning Margaret Hicks-Clarke on 01405 760468. To see more about the society, visit its website www.goolecivicsociety.org.uk.