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Our people / Hessle Road, Hull
Famous Names of Hessle Road
Aviation, music, theatre, sport and community courage: remarkable lives with roots in Hessle Road and its neighbouring streets.
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Our illustrated heritage collection.Read the story alongside the artwork.
Researched 10 October 2026 · A growing community archive
01
Amy Johnson CBE
Born at 154 St George's Road, off Hessle Road. In 1930 she became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.
02
Sir Tom Courtenay
Grew up in Harrow Street, off Hessle Road. An acclaimed stage and screen actor, knighted in 2001. His father worked on Hull's Fish Dock.
03
Joe Longthorne MBE
Grew up in the Hessle Road area. His extraordinary voice and impressions brought national television fame; his charitable work earned an MBE.
04
Johnny Whiteley MBE
Born and brought up in the Hessle Road community. A Hull FC great who played for Great Britain and later coached at international level.
05
Luke Campbell MBE
Grew up on Hessle Road. Won bantamweight boxing gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
06
Barrie Rutter
Grew up in the Hessle Road fishing community. Founded Northern Broadsides, bringing northern voices to Shakespeare and classical theatre.
07
Russ Litten
Grew up in the Hessle Road area. Author of Scream If You Want to Go Faster and Swear Down, with Hull life at the heart of his writing.
08
Lillian "Big Lil" Bilocca
Born in Wassand Street; later lived in Coltman Street. Led the campaign for safer trawlers after Hull's 1968 triple trawler disaster.
09
Mary Denness
Described herself as born on Hessle Road in her recorded memories. One of the women whose 1968 campaign demanded better safety for Hull's fishermen.
10
Yvonne Blenkinsop
Born into the Hessle Road fishing community. Helped lead the 1968 campaign that changed the debate about safety at sea.
11
Dean Windass
Grew up in Gipsyville, in the wider Hessle Road area. Scored Hull City's winning goal at Wembley in 2008, securing the club's first Premier League promotion.
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Send a photograph, family memory, name or correction. Include the place, approximate date, the people you recognise and permission to publish.Email Info@hessleroad.com ↗Contribution guidance →Research sources & illustration notes
Connections include adjoining streets and the wider Hessle Road community. Dean Windass grew up in Gipsyville. This selection does not claim that every person lived on the main road itself. Amy Johnson’s aircraft is illustrated as her de Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth, Jason, rather than a military aircraft. The imagery celebrates achievements; it is not a collection of photographic portraits.
Amy Johnson CBE ↗
Sir Tom Courtenay ↗
Joe Longthorne MBE ↗
Johnny Whiteley MBE ↗
Johnny Whiteley MBE ↗
Luke Campbell MBE ↗
Luke Campbell MBE ↗
Barrie Rutter ↗
Russ Litten ↗
Russ Litten ↗
Lillian "Big Lil" Bilocca ↗
Lillian "Big Lil" Bilocca ↗
Mary Denness ↗
Mary Denness ↗
Yvonne Blenkinsop ↗
Dean Windass ↗
Dean Windass ↗
Follow another thread
There’s more to discover.
Ten Fascinating Facts ↗The Old Pubs of Hessle Road ↗View all 18 illustrated stories →
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