Ross Tiger digital tour
Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre presents an exciting virtual experience, giving you the chance to explore the historic trawler, Ross Tiger, from wherever you are.
Our 3D replica of the ship allows you to see the iconic trawler in new ways, including areas usually hidden below the water line. Fun interactives allow you to start the propeller, operate the rudder, sound the whistle, or even belch smoke from the funnel. You then enter a fully interactive 3D walk through the ship. Along the way, you can meet out tour guides and former trawlermen and view archive images of the ship in action.
The new tour was created thanks to funding from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund – External Link: http://bit.ly/rosstiger
Meet your Guides
Former Skipper Dennis Avery
Dennis is thought to be the longest serving “Skipper” of the Ross Tiger, being the regular captain of the ship from 1975 until 1983. During 1983 and 1984 Dennis also took command of Ross Tiger’s sister ships, Ross Jackal, Ross Zebra, Ross Panther and Ross Jackal. In 1984 this class of trawler was retired from fishing.
Dennis started his career at sea in 1959 and retired as master of a supply boat in the Douglas Oil Field in 2009, giving him a total of 50 years at sea.
He says that the Ross Tiger was the most capable ship he ever sailed in. There is nowhere in the world that he wouldn’t feel confident to take her.
“It was a good life with some brilliant skilled men. If I could, I’d sail again tomorrow!”
Former Skipper Bob Formby
Bob has had a sea career of over 50 years at sea, both as a trawlerman and as captain on supply vessels in the North Sea oil industry.
As a trawlerman, Bob spent most of his time on large distant-water ships and was skipper of these vessels for 10 years. He was actively involved in the Cod-War disputes with Iceland and recorded some of these memories for BBC Radio 4.
He has fished around the world, including Africa and along the equator.
Former Third Hand Ron Telford
Ron had a career of 45 years at sea, starting in 1965 and finally hanging up his sea boots in 2010.
He sailed in a variety of Grimsby trawlers, starting in Grimsby’s Boston Deep Sea Fisheries aboard the Weelsby and finishing fishing in 1990 aboard the Safco Endeavour.
One of the Ron’s favoured skippers was Dennis Avery, with whom he sailed with aboard Ross Tiger. Dennis is still a close friend of Ron and his family and is a fellow guide at Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre.
Ron finished his career at Yarmouth, where he was deck bosun aboard supply ships for North Sea Oil Rigs.
Ron has been a guide with the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre since 2018.
John Grantham
John had a career of over 40 years in the railway industry. Grimsby is a port that grew due to the investment provided by the railways, being connected to London and other major cities as early as 1848. John began his career working on the former “East Lincolnshire Line” that was managed by Great Northern Railway, delivering the catch of the developing fishing industry directly to Billingsgate and other major markets. Fish and goods were still being transported up to the final closure of the line in 1980, with passenger traffic ending with the famous Beeching closures of the 1960’s. The port, which was formerly managed by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, later the Great Central Railway, is today managed by Associated British Ports.
After retiring from his railway career, John developed his interest in the heritage of Grimsby and it’s fishing past, joining the team at Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre in 2014. John works as a guide as well as supporting the award winning Education service at the attraction.
