George is a self-taught photographer who previously worked with his Dad collecting Rag and Bone and then later offshore on the rigs. In the 1980s George was a Silhouette regular and part of the large alternative music and club scene in Hull.
George’s photographs of his Hessle Road community, including Bobby Mandrell are well respected, and have been showcased in Humber Street Gallery and Hull Museums. His work was projected on the town hall during the launch of City of Culture.
I learnt about politics and life through music – the Clash were my band. They’d play all this great music downstairs in Silhouette on Spring Bank. Silhouette was a club, but everyone knew it was a gay club. But we all went and everyone was safe in there. It was a Georgian house. Upstairs was like a living room where older generations of gay people would sit. In the basement was the bar and dance floor. There was a chair in the upstairs room – I think they called it the Meat Rack!. It was where you’d sit if you were looking for love! People like Twaddles and Slack and Pete who went out with owner Ray would be in there and lots of dandy’s. Molly was on the door and she’d frighten us all to death, she was a scary character. We loved it.
Click the red arrow to hear George’s oral history.
