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A BLUE plaque has been unveiled at the former Hull home of a woman who campaigned for safety regulations at sea and is credited with saving thousands of fishermen’s lives.
Lillian Bilocca along with three others — Christine Jensen, Mary Denness and Yvonne Blenkinsop — became known as the “headscarf revolutionaries” who campaigned relentlessly following the 1968 triple trawler tragedy — when three Hull trawlers sank in winter storms, with the loss of 58 lives.
Their demands led to the “Fishermen’s Charter” and included legislation against setting sail with insufficient crew and the mandatory presence of radio operators on trawlers.
A large crowd gathered for the unveiling of the plaque in Coltman Street for Bilocca, including Hull Lord Mayor Lynn Petrini, council leader Daren Hale and Hull West and Hessle Labour MP Emma Hardy.
Bilocca’s son Ernie said: “This is a fitting epitaph not only to my mum but to the other ladies involved.”
Bilocca died in 1988 aged 59.
