You only appreciate freedom when you are deprived of it!! That was the philosophy of the event. Or as Joni Mitchell might say – ‘You don’t know what you’ve got til its gone.’
Hull is unique.
We all know that. It is unique in a number of ways but Bridges was a way of demonstrating one of its unique characteristics. The city is divided in two by the river Hull. That is not unusual. Many cities are divided in two. What makes Hull unique is that there are thirteen bridges crossing that river and none of them are fixed. They can all be opened.
Rich and Lou Howard-Duffy had the idea of dividing the city by opening all of its thirteen bridges – separating it and depriving Hull of its freedom – and then bringing it back together.
It was a symbolic of the way the people of Hull have fought for freedom and unity down the years from Wilberforce’s work to abolish slavery right up to the present day.
At seventeen minutes past eight o clock – the symbolic 20.17 – the bridges were opened and Hull was divided. Then it was rejoined and its freedom restored.
To celebrate 18th century schooner HMS Pickle set off rocket flares in front of the majestic architecture of the Deep and tugs gave a salute of huge plumes of water.
Congratulations to Rich and Lou Duffy-Howard for pulling off such an audacious event!!
We’re all free once more!! We need to cherish and protect those freedoms. They were hard fought for.
A rocket flare goes off over the Deep.
To find out more of this fabulous project go to Open Bridges Hull and see some of Rich Duffy-Howard’s brilliant photos and read all about it.