Testimonials

“The book is utterly fabulous, a real artefact and a joy to behold. Such images, such production standards – a fitting record of a great project.” Nial Adams, East Riding of Yorkshire Museums Manager

“Brilliant book launch, amazed by all the people who attended, each one involved with the story.  It was good to meet up again with everyone on this amazing journey of the river that entwined all our lives. Massive thanks Rich and Lou for making it happen. Unforgettable.”

“So many happy faces at the book launch. I loved being part of the journey and meeting so many river folk old and new. I would like to say a huge thank you to Rich and Lou for your vision and dedication to making it happen. I will treasure my book always.” Janet Anderson, contributor

“Congratulations on an incredibly well realised project.” Graeme Oxby, senior lecturer in photography, University of Lincoln

“It’s not only a beautiful book to look at, it’s full of surprises. The ship to shore transcript of the vessels manoeuvring as the City split in two, is an unexpected riveting read. This is a marvellous book, everyone should be proud of just what an achievement it is for the people and history of Hull.” Photographer, David Morris

“Pleasure to have played a very small part in this. Available in all good local libraries from next week, features over 200 River Hull-related images included many re-mastered photographs from the HDM archives.” Angus Young senior journalist Hull Daily Mail

“A brilliant achievement and a fantastic book. Interesting to read and beautiful to look at.” Phillip Codd, film maker

“I would like to thank you on behalf of the Society and myself. It is clearly a labour of love and the quality is outstanding. A real credit to Rich and yourself and a publication I will be discussing with people I meet. You have done a really fantastic job.”  Mike Hussey, United Towage and Salvage Society

“Thank you Lou and Rich, I will treasure this book forever.” Alison Bateman, contributor

“A fantastic achievement and a wonderful record of a significant part of our city’s history. Thank you again for the commitment and enthusiasm you’ve given over the past few years culminating in this beautiful artefact.”  Photographer Richard Young

“The book is amazing, really well written, lots of great memories from on & around the river. Very well done to all concerned for the hard work that has clearly gone into everything from Open Bridges to this wonderful end result. A fantastic achievement which will never be forgotten.” Varenka Allam 

“Beautiful book, you’ve done Hull proud.” David Todd

“At every inch of the way I have loved what you have done with the Open Bridges projects from your first discussions through to where you are now. I don’t really have the words say how much it all means to both yourselves and others. Brilliant is too understated. It is truly wonderful what you have done. I expected a quality book but this surpasses my expectations. I almost feel I should be wearing cotton gloves when reading it! The range of information, photos, storytelling is sublime.”  Dave Tuck, contributor

“Well done to all who got behind this wonderful project, congratulations Rich and Lou for celebrating our city, your passion, dedication and enthusiasm for telling the story of our great river will leave people drunk with joy.” George Norris

“The book itself is very absorbing book – to just sit and turn the pages is a delight. There’s a timeless quality there.” Artist, Gary Saunt

And from writer Michel Faber:

“This email is long, long overdue. I meant to write it several years ago when you first sent me A River Full Of Stories and I read it and I had all sort of thoughts fresh in my mind poised to be written down, and then life got in the way and I lost my grip on the thoughts and the opportunity slipped into oblivion. Ever since then, A River Full Of Stories has been standing propped upright against one of the bookcases in my study, silently reminding me that your excellent book has still not been given its due.

You will be aware that books of local history are often amateurish affairs, bearing all the hallmarks of enthusiasts whose plentiful knowledge about their beloved homeplace is not matched by their skills in other aspects of a book’s production, leading to turgid, repetitious, typo-ridden text printed in horrid fonts on ill-suited paper poorly bound inside an embarrassingly inept cover. Often this is partly due to severe budget restraints, although it can also happen that a local history book looks “cheap” while actually being printed on super-glossy paper that must have cost a fortune. So although money is a key factor in the production of local history books, it’s not as important as having people onboard who know what they’re doing. 

A River Full Of Stories is such a handsome book and is a credit not just to your town but to your vision as publishers. 

One of the many sound decisions was to intersperse the black & white “historical” photographs in the early parts of the book — conventional mid-to-long-view documentary snaps, many of them — with arty full-colour shots, including almost abstract close-ups of rope textures, etc. This breaks up what might otherwise have been monotony and allows for a smooth transition to the later parts of the book where the photographs, whether colour or B&W, have a more self-consciously aesthetic sensibility. 

Also, the book is not afraid to take its time and let each of the voices have their eloquent say. 

I don’t know if the book even mentions “Brexit” once — I didn’t notice the word while reading — but I do know that Hull is on record as having voted quite overwhelmingly to leave the EU. Yet this is a book all about bridges and co-operation, and in that sense undermines the conception  that eg. Londoners might have of Hull as an insular community of xenophobes.  

Letting the bargees and the lightermen speak about their working conditions without editorial comment or analysis was a good move. The nostalgia of old men for the camaraderie and macho vigour of their ‘cowboy’ youth comes through but so does the corrupt and exploitative nature of their employment which was obviously doomed not to survive into the modern era. 

It’s clear as one delves into the book that it arose not from one stage-managed “municipal display” but from a long-term, sustained engagement on many different levels with lots of different groups in the community. And I get the impression that this was not because you felt obliged to “box-tick” in order to demonstrate that no one was being left out, but because you were genuinely interested in getting all those perspectives.

Congratulations!”

Michel Faber

PS: I do like the unintended sexual undertone of these blokes manoeuvring their boats: “I’ve got her! She’s coming!” and so on. But maybe my favourite line in the whole book, which seems to sum up the mixture of can-do spirit, generosity and pretension-free pride of the whole endeavour, is Norman Hardy saying “I’ve got your front cabin made, it’s in me shed.”

From the visitor’s book, Goole Museum and Gallery february 9th – April 13th 2024

“Brilliant stuff! So professional as always, with great photography and great music. A pleasure”.

“Lovely atmospheric pictures, brother were skipper and mate on the George Dyson (63 – 73). I remember her new – a toilet on board, just had to climb down a ladder into the engine room.”

“I just loved the pace of the journey down the river and the music carrying you along. The whole exhibition is inspiring on so many levels: historically, emotionally and visually, and the soundtrack so atmospheric.”

“Absolutely bloody lovely.”

“A really good and quality exhibition. I loved the entirety of it – the film, the music and not least the atmospheric still photographs. I would recommend this to everyone, but I think it’s important that local schools in Goole take the opportunity to let their school children see it. I am unable to recall a better exhibition in Goole.”

“First time visiting the museum, great to read about the history of Goole and also fantastic photo’s, social history and music in the ‘Goole by Barge’ exhibition. The photos really gave a sense of the importance of the water to the area.”

“Absolutely brilliant exhibition – worked on the water nearly 20 years so familiar places.”

“Fabulous exhibition! I really enjoyed the mix of photo’s video and music. The content of the panels really helped me understand more of the experience and artwork. Thank you.”

“Lived in Goole ’88 – ’92; great to walk down memory lane and learn something in this lovely and well thought out museum.”

“Great stuff – nice that barges are remembered.”

“My fave photo was of the whacky looking moon-barn.”

“Excellent! Really enjoyed the exhibition and music.”

“Brilliant photo’s interesting videos.”

“Excellent exhibition, wonderful to speak to the Adventurer, enjoyed listening to his stories about local adventures, and great to see sights from a different perspective.”

“Lovely exhibition – Thank-you. I enjoyed it all – but especially the bridges. It is fascinating to view the land from the water, rather than the other way round. What’s it like going past Drax?”

“Great exhibition. Your adventure. Very enjoyable.”

“Superb exhibition – great photos and stories!”

“Many memories of Goole, Ouse and John Dean! Good video and pictures.”

 “So many reminders of the River Humber and Goole, beautiful photo’s, a very pleasant evening, thank you and good luck with your future projects, hope there are many more.”

“A lovely exhibition held in a sympathetic and attractive space – excellent work all round!”

“Familiar places and landscapes, but all looking so different from the water. Great photos and videos. Thanks.”

“Beautiful images of an amazing and historic river voyage. Well done.”

“Love the photos and films. Great textures and colours of water, don’t know how you managed this at night from a moving barge.”

“Excellent display and superb record of an historic trip. Bonus to meet Lou and Rich and gain first-hand account. Well worthy day trip from Northampton.”

“Fabulous photographs – such depth and contrasting colours and light. Brilliant Show!”

“Love the Open Bridges Project – was really looking forward to seeing this instalment and I’m impressed with the gallery and curation. Will certainly be telling friends!”

“Fabulous for grandchildren age 2 + 3.”

“Great insight into the history. Thankfully it is preserved for others to hopefully appreciate.”

“What a fab place of all the history of Goole shipping and building of the ships.”

“This is great stuff I love Goole so much.”

“Thanks for helping ARTISTS”

“Really rather marvellous.”

“We love visiting Goole, nice collection.”

“Wonderful photographs, lovely to meet Lou and Rich.”