Memories of Star & Garter (Rayners) 1983

In 1983 I documented the lunchtime drinkers in the Star and Garter pub, known locally in Hull as Rayners. The pub, now run by landlady Rachel Naylor is on the junction of Hessle Road and West Dock Avenue. For years it used to be the centre of Hull’s proud fishing community. But the halcyon days of hundreds of pints lining the bar in wait for the three-day millionaires coming ashore and spending their hard-earned wages before heading out to sea again were long gone. My pictures have just been published by Café Royal Books so I decided to try to put some names to the faces of these characters with help from the Facebook group ‘Hull: The Good Old Days’. Here are my pictures and some of the fond memories their publication have bought back to life after nearly 40 years. I hope you enjoy them.

[@johnfrench8714]

I'm from Suffolk, but worked in Hull in the late '70s. Great times with folk who made me so welcome, and the pubs well, fantastic including this one I remember well! There was also one (I think) called The Zooilogical? Stood alone with surrounding buildings knocked down, great boozer I guess sadly long gone, anyway, thanks for some great memories there and thank you people of Hull!

[@robertkemp8717]

Yes the Zoo. Fantastic pub that was propped by wooden beams and sold a great pint of mild. It’s now the site of the Hull Daily Mail offices, I think, assuming the Hull Daily Mail is still there.

[@melancholiac]

Great to See James Rutter reading the racing pages -- he was the board man at Art Wells /Coral bookmakers.

[@russellboycephotographer]

Glad you like it - it took a while for me to get the names after so many years

[@everydaysabonus]

Absolutely Brilliant, True Social History, very well put together👍thanks for sharing, I as on Hessle Road the other day as well, will call in for a swift half next time I’m passing 😊

[@russellboycephotographer]

So glad you enjoyed it - enjoy the drink !!

[@RHR-221b]

Thank you for this nostalgic and historic documentation, Russell. Subscribed. All the best. Stay free. Rab 🍻 😎 🕊

[@russellboycephotographer]

So glad you like it. It was fun shooting the original story in 1983/4 and the follow up all those years later. Take care

[@pictureeditor1855]

fantastic bit of social history

[@debbieharperhuggins4931]

The pic of the Gentleman on is own is my grt uncle Joey Edison...Gypsy Joey, this photo image was also used on a famouse album cover from a band Hull ,No royalty's for our Joey

[@debbieharperhuggins4931]

House Martins Album cover

[@user-kl4bh4lq6r]

Gritty stuff great photos

[@stevemartindale4446]

Mentioned in the Sunbirds song ‘Meet you on the Northside’ Hull’s own Dave Hemingway on vocals!

[@charliewatson4248]

should still be the Star & Garter. Not the same now. Sad.

[@russellboycephotographer]

Thanks fr the comment - it's certainly different for sure