Hull Freaks Union
march and gig

hull march and gig at the "Welli" club
february 02 , 2003

photography/text: pablo luis gonzález

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If I ever wanted to know how does a fish feel out of its pond, then I had my answer, just for a few moments, on Sunday 2 February 2003, on a march and a free gig thrown in at the old "Welli" club here, in Hull (when was the last time I set foot in the Welli: it must have been in the 80s!). The event was organized by the Freaks Union and Hull Stop the War Campaign; it was a successful day that went late into the evening. Many of the marchers, perhaps the majority I dare to say, were very young, not older that 16 year old.

Click on images to enlarge

A head count revealed that between 400 and 500 people participated in it; the biggest march in Hull of any kind for many years, I was told. We slightly underestimated the numbers on purpose; wild claims tend to discredit those who make them. Jimbo and Sam, of the Freaks Unions, had assured that they would get at least 200 youngsters to march, the actual number of participants went beyond our expectations, and theirs: this is Hull, after all.

Martin Deane and Tim Stimson revealed themselves as quite fine public speakers.

Many of the marchers were rather camera shy, especially the girls: giggling and distrustful of the lens, although not so much when they were explained that the photographs were intended to be posted on a website. This attitude, which is understandingly strong in these days of an undercurrent of paranoia, may well be giving a reason for the low and poor level of political participation of the young: they might simply feel that they are in an alien environment that does not take much notice not only of their concerns, but most of all of their humanity.

On this occasion fences were eroded, if not totally taken down, as participation in the gig by youngsters and grown-ups went well into the dark shadows of the evening. At one point it felt like I had overshot my bed time when they were still in full swing! Finally, sharing a toilet with a young girl was an experience that I was not expecting: No, I wasn't lurking around the girls' toilet; she was in the men's with her boyfriend.

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