Fisherlads’ Institute postcard; notice of a special, fast, excursion train to London 1901.

An interesting, original, posted postcard sent to G. H. Whyatt Esq., Town Hall, Grimsby on 6th July 1901. This was most probably meant for H. G. Whyatt, the Borough Surveyor. Henry G. Whyatt of “Ellesmere”, Welholme Avenue was a civil and municipal engineer who was born in Manchester. (He had a very young son called Gilbert H. Whyatt.) H. G. Whyatt was closely involved in local affairs.

The sender of the notice of the excursion, Orby Bradley, was a coal merchant living at 4 Pelham Terrace, off Bargate. He was the secretary of the Fisherlads’ Institute. He relinquished his secretarial duties in 1910 after nearly 40 years’ service.

The Grimsby Fisherlads’ Institute, built in 1879 on Orwell Street, was a crucial facility for young fishermen, featuring classrooms, a gym, and famous swimming baths that served the community for decades before becoming the Orwell Street Baths. (The site was eventually redeveloped into a leisure centre.) The Institute provided training in skills like sea cookery and net-mending, supporting Grimsby’s booming fishing industry by caring for its young workforce.