A new and reimagined Grim statue is standing proud on its plinth in the heart of Grimsby once again.
For 33 years, the iconic Grim and Havelock statue stood outside the Grimsby Institute, depicting the legendary story of Grim saving Prince Havelock. It was taken down from its plinth in 2006 following repeated episodes of vandalism, but was unearthed and brought out of storage in 2022, ahead of a special exhibition the following year.
Last year, the statue was restored to its former glory and put on display at Grimsby's Fishing Heritage Centre, before moving to its permanent home on Freeman Street Market.
To fill the empty plinth on Grimsby Institute's Nuns Corner campus and celebrate the facility's 80th anniversary, Dale Wells and Darren Neave, co-owners of the turntable gallery on Grimsby Docks, worked with students and staff from a range of departments to come up with an idea for a new statue.
The design was created by art students Libby-Marie Pinchbeck, Chloe Coulam and Crystal Chivers, before being brought to life by students in fabrication and welding, motor vehicle bodywork and construction curriculums.
On Friday, the statue - 21st Century Grim - depicting a reimagined Grim in the form of a modern-day fisherman, was unveiled in a special ceremony outside Grimsby Institute by His Worshipful The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Cllr Steve Beasant, and the Mayoress, Sandra Hullett.
Libby-Marie Pinchbeck, Grimsby Institute art student, said: “To be able to create and be a part of something that will be here for a long time is really amazing and I'm very thankful that I got to be a part of it. We wanted to encapsulate what Grimsby is about which was fishing and represented this through the waves and heart.”
Dale and Darren from the turntable gallery said: "The turntable gallery began the process of bringing Grim back in 2015, and ever since, the desire to see the founder of our great town memorialised, has never been far from our hearts. And that determination, that heart, now sits firmly on the shoulders of our newest piece of public art.
"We envisioned this project as being a way to bring the various bodies of the Institute together, and I think the learners have broadened that to encompass the whole town in a celebration of us, its community.
"We are delighted that we could be even a small part of it, and even more so that Grimsby Institute has not only taken on the mantle, but ran further with it than any one of us could have done alone.
"If anything, this is proof that we have everything we need here to rally our town, and when we work together, we can move mountains. Or in this case, a very heavy, steel trawlerman."
Ann Hardy, CEO of the TEC Partnership, said: “I’m so proud of all our students for the collaborative efforts and the professionalism they have displayed in working on this project. It’s an honour to reimagine the Grim and we’re delighted that our student’s art will be displayed in the heart of the community at our Nuns Corner campus.
“We have created some wonderful events in our 80th year, starting off with last summer’s community event and today, unveiling the reimagined Grim provides a lasting artwork for the town.”
Text by Lauren Davidson, Chief Reporter, Grimsby Telegraph
