We live right on the edge of a well known urban park in Hull and have a wonderful view into huge horse chestnut trees and beyond to a new bandstand, freshly pressure washed statue of a young Queen Victoria and the fully rebuilt animal house.
From this description it is of course instantly recognisable as Pearson Park just off Beverley Road.
It is a very well patronised bit of greenspace by the residents of the inner city and beyond.
We are never short of interesting scenes and examples of human behaviour from our living room window. This has ranged from very passionate episodes in plain sight, a few confrontations, anti-social behaviour, Tai-Chi sessions, drug dealing and much more.
Mostly our witness is of happy things such as the young couple who regularly sit on our front garden wall, deep in conversation or the sounds of children and families playing on bikes or just running around in the well maintained open spaces.
Here are a few more accounts of life in our Park.
The Hull City Police Band announced their playlist for a summers evening concert under their conductor Mr W Dodgson. The opening piece was a march, "Royal St Marceau" by L C Desonmes, followed by a Gavotte "Sadie" by Amillon , a Hungarian Dance by Sarakowski and to conclude the first half, a selection of "Reminiscences of Donizetti" by F Godrey.
After the interval the concert continued with the Overture from the Barber of Seville by Rossini, a selection entitled "La Pompee" by Audron, a stirring Valse "L'Etoile Polaire" by Waldteufel and with a finale on a nautical theme by G Miller called "A voyage in a troopship".
There was an alleged attempted arson in the Park when a 7 year old boy and his father saw a George Cooling, age 45 from Alexandra Road behaving suspiciously around the thatched arbour on the north west side. He was seen striking numerous matches and pushing them with newspaper into a hole in the thatch. Father and son challenged him and awaited arrival of the Police. The perpetrator, who was a daily visitor to the Park denied any wrongdoing and justified having matches and paper in being a pipe-smoker. He was however remanded in custody.
Public use of the recreational amenities in the Park was reported as having increased over the preceding 12 month period. The Tennis Courts, Bowling Green and Racquets Area had brought in revenue of £264 which represented a 40% uplift. The actual numbers of Patrons was 23334 which ranked third in terms of use after West Park (39388) and East Park (32980). This was most encouraging in that West and East Parks were significantly larger in landed area.
A tragic occurrence was the sudden death of a 21 year old, John Hudson, who collapsed and died whilst playing football with friends. His demise was quite a shock given that he worked in a physically demanding job as a Second Gardener at the nearby Newland Orphans Homes on Cottingham Road. He had apparently just celebrated scoring a goal, gasped three times and then fell prone as the Band played God Save the King from the bandstand. He was a local lad from Albert Crescent on Beaconsfield Street.
The Hull Parks Committee heard reports of nuisance from rowdies in the Park. Young men and boys were congregating in the vicinity of the Pavilion every night and partaking in shouting, playing football, fighting and generally spoiling everything approaching peace and comfort. Damage and vandalism has also been done to the Pavilion and property of Hull Corporation. Ideas suggested to curtail this behaviour included erecting a fence to close in the surroundings to the Pavilion and, with the collaboration of the Manager of the Refreshment Room and the Chief Constable to keep this particular amenity open later to discourage the rowdies.
Police Women were to patrol the Park on the instructions of the Hull Watch Committee who were concerned about immoral goings on amongst young people. They would be better suited to such work although on current wages of two pounds and ten shillings a week an increase would have to be sought to reflect new responsibilities.
A local businessman established a Prize for an Essay Writing Competition for local schoolchildren on the theme of Pearson Park. Girls were to write about the identity of the Park and Boys an account of the trees.
Nothing much has changed since the Park opened in the 1860's. The events described above could as easily have taken place over the last few days but the actual dates are very interesting.
The Band Concert was on 19th August 1898
The Arson attack was 3rd June 1914
Public use figures were for 1926
The football death was 17th June 1900
Rowdies were 4th July 1900
Police Women in the Park was 1921
The Essay Prize was for 1908
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