Archbishop of Canterbury visits Grimsby Fish Docks – Fishupdate.com

Archbishop of Canterbury visits Grimsby Fish Docks Published:  09 March, 2010

GRIMSBY Fish Docks played host to an unusual and historic visitor at the weekend – the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

It was the first time a serving Archbishop had visited the port for almost 1,000 years.

After morning Eucharist in the parish church, the Archbishop was driven to Grimsby Docks for a tour of the fish market and the quayside which had three trawlers and an offshore boat for him to look at.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, outlined the work of the complex in supplying fish to the nation and its growing role as a support base to the offshore wind farm industry.

He told how Grimsby was once home to nearly 500 trawlers, making it the largest fishing port in the world. He also met other fishing leaders past and present including Frank Flear, Richard Robinson and Steve Norton, chief executive of the FMA.

Grimsby Fish Market is soon to undergo a multi million pound modernisation programme and the port is also to get a new seafood village to be built nearby and those plans were outlined to Dr Williams.

Afterwards, he was presented with a parcel of traditional Grimsby smoked haddock which has recently received protected European status. The Archbishop said afterwards that he was very impressed with the way Grimsby was battling to maintain its fishing industry and heritage and at plans to include the growing offshore wind turbine industry in which the fish docks is playing a major role.