Viola campaign to benefit from calendar of famous ships

Larry Malkin (left) and maritime historian Dr Robb Robinson at the launch of the Homeward Bound calendar at 1884 Wine & Tapas Bar.

TRUSTEES behind a campaign to bring the world’s oldest remaining steam trawler back to its home in Hull will be crossing off the days after taking delivery of a commemorative calendar and revealing the ship could be back next summer.

The Viola Trust unveiled the “Homeward Bound” calendar to sponsors at a special launch event held at 1884 Wine & Tapas Bar.

The venue was selected because of its support for the project and its location at the side of Hull Marina – the former Humber Dock from which the Viola sailed in 1914 to serve in the First World War.

The calendar was initiated by Welwick-based artist Larry Malkin with the aim of raising funds and increasing awareness of the project. Within three days of launching the calendar with a limited edition print run of 500, trustees reported more than 300 had been sold.

Larry, who works from his studio at home, was inspired to create the calendar after being commissioned to paint a picture of the Norland for the cover of a book. He had already decided to paint the Viola and offer the work to the Viola Trust for auction, and he was planning another work showing the visit to Hull by the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1977.

He said: “I realised that by having three separate paintings we had the start of a calendar, so I contacted the Trust and offered to put one together.”

Printing of the calendar was sponsored by local businesses including Andrew Jackson Solicitors, Arco, RSM UK, SMS Towage and 1884 Wine & Tapas Bar. The Viola campaign will receive all the proceeds from sales, topped up by half of the revenue from an auction of the original paintings early in 2020.

The Viola features on the cover of the calendar and for the month of April. Other featured vessels are the Kirkella, Humber Barges, Norland, HMS Bounty, Lincoln Castle, HMS Britannia with HMS Yarmouth, Manxman, Sea Challenger, Arctic Corsair, Rialto and Diana.

Norman Court, Project manager for the Viola Trust, said the initial target is to raise £1.5-million to bring the Viola back to Hull and then bring in another £1.5-million to restore the ship ready to take her place in the Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project.

He said discussions are under way with the operators of vessels which could carry the Viola the 7,745 miles back from South Georgia and with potential suppliers of funding, with a significant amount already pledged for when the vessel is back in the UK.

He said: “With a fair wind the Viola could be back next summer. If we hit complications we’ll be looking at 2021.”

Copies of the calendar can be purchased from 1884 Wine & Tapas Bar, Wellington Street West, Hull, and at Hotham’s Distillery in Hepworth’s Arcade, Hull. The Viola Trust is in the process of contacting retailers to stock the calendar. The retail price is £9.95, with postage and packaging payable on email orders.

To place an order for the calendar please contact the Trust by email at info@violatrawler.net

To find out more about the Viola campaign please visit http://www.violatrawler.net/

To find out more about Larry Malkin please visit http://www.artistlarrymalkin.com/