‘Fish Bobber’ union badge c1940s.

An original, enamel, button-hole badge made by Frank Cobb & Co. of Sheffield. It measures 34mm across and has a red number one across the centre. It is believed that badges with a number two also exist.

A ‘fish bobber’ was employed to unload fish from trawlers. The name appears to have been specific to Hull. The term ‘lumper’ was used at Grimsby.

The badge is marked ‘National Union of General & Municipal Workers’. On the reverse it gives a unique ‘Registered Number: 249’. The NUGMW Union was formed in 1924. It became the ‘General and Municipal Workers’ Union’ (GMWU) in 1974 and then the ‘General, Municipal, Boilermakers’ and Allied Trade Union’ (GMBATU) in 1982.