Historic figures from Hull will influence the naming of a new bridge
Breaking News: Hull's New Bridge - A Tribute to City Heroes
A significant development is underway in the city of Hull, as a new bridge is being constructed as part of the Government's Northern Powerhouse commitment. This bridge, which is expected to open to the public next spring, will significantly improve connectivity in the city centre.
A panel has shortlisted five individuals who have close links with Hull, and the public is being asked to vote to decide which individual should inspire the name of the new bridge. The shortlisted candidates are World War Two veteran Thomas Ransom, Dr Mary Murdoch, the first female GP in Hull and founder of the Hull Women's Suffrage Society; Julia Lee, the first woman to officiate men's rugby league games in the UK; Lillian Bilocca, known as a 'headscarf revolutionary'; and William Wilberforce, a philanthropist and abolitionist.
Thomas Ransom, who flew around 30 missions in a Lancaster bomber during World War Two and survived the war before passing away in 2017 at the age of 97, is one of the shortlisted individuals. Dr Mary Murdoch, Hull's first female GP, House Surgeon at the Victoria Hospital for Sick Children in Park Street, and founder of the Hull Women's Suffrage Society, is another contender.
Julia Lee, who made history as the first woman to officiate men's rugby league games in the UK, and Lillian Bilocca, a local hero known as a 'headscarf revolutionary', are also on the shortlist. William Wilberforce, a philanthropist and abolitionist, rounds out the list of five.
The public can vote online on the A63 Castle Street - Princes Quay Bridge and Roger Millward Way page, or at the Minster, where five voting boxes have been placed. An online poll will run for two weeks starting on Monday 9 March, and updates on the poll will be provided via Twitter using #a63hullpqbridge.
The results of the public vote will be used by the judging panel to finalize a name for the bridge based on the winning theme. The judging panel includes Emma Hardy MP, Katy Duke, Cllr Daren Hale, Karen Oliver-Spry, and key members of the Highways England Project Team. The new name and winner will be announced at the time the bridge opens to the public next spring.
The bridge is part-funded with a £4 million contribution from the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership's local growth fund programme. This investment underscores the importance of this project to the city of Hull and the wider region.
The new bridge will be a testament to the city's rich history and the achievements of its people. So, let your voice be heard, and help choose the individual who will inspire the name of this new symbol of Hull's progress.
