From Fake Grimsby Day to Great Grimsby Day
Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Society on moving "Great Grimsby Day" from 22nd January to 11 March (Great Grimsby Charter Day).
"Great Grimsby Day" has never been a traditional festival. It was dreamed up by Youngs in 2008 to promote a new range of frozen fish that was launched in that week. Austin Mitchell MP, who was proud to support Grimsby trade, publicised "Grimsby Day" by having his photo taken opposite Parliament with a giant fish finger
but we can find no record in Hansard of Great Grimsby Day being mentioned in Parliament. Perhaps this isn't surprising since the date of Grimsby's Royal Charter is 11 March.
The Charter Day of 11 March marks the day the King granted local freemen the right to collect their own taxes and begin the very long road to self Government.
This is why the Civic Society propose moving Great Grimsby Day to March 11th.
Supported by the Freemen of Grimsby and the Mayor, Leader and Chief Executive of North East Lincolnshire Council
Below: How Youngs' Great Grimsby Day was reported in the food press in 2008
Even in Grimsby, the original "Great Grimsby Day" seems to have passed almost without note at the time, apart from an article on the BBC Radio Humberside website. It appears to have been forgotten until 2018 when a journalist quite innocently re-discovered it on the internet and wrote an article. Every well-meaning event has created more "evidence" on the internet, so that every couple of years, someone else rediscovers "Great Grimsby Day", and with the best of intentions tries to drum up support and then realises that 22nd January is too cold, wet and bleak for a celebration.
This also causes confusion with Charter Day on 11 March, celebrating the date when Grimsby was granted its royal charter. Everyone says, "We've already had Great Grimsby Day!"
In some ways this is a very interesting story about how fake news can grow and take root- with no malicious intent - within living memory. But we need to put things right.
To deal with the situation, the Civic Society is sponsoring a public drive - From Fake Grimsby Day to Great Grimsby Day - in 2025 to move Great Grimsby Day from 22 January to 11 March. This is supported by the Freemen of Grimsby and the Mayor, Leader and Chief Executive of North East Lincolnshire Council.
SEE BELOW: HOW AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN BECAME A MYTH
BELOW: How Wikipedia reported Great Grimsby Day
Wikipedia got its information from the BBC Radio Humberside website
How the Grimsby Telegraph picked up the Great Grimsby Day myth.
GROWING SUPPORT FOR OUR CAMPAIGN TO MOVE GREAT GRIMSBY DAY TO 11 MARCH
Support from Grimsby's MP Melanie Onn for the campaign to move Grimsby Day.
Support from North East Lincolnshire Council for the campaign to move Grimsby Day.
LET'S PUT THIS RIGHT FOR 2025 - Move Great Grimsby Day from 22 January to Charter Day of 11 March.