Made In Hull: The Dark Knight, Hull Batman
Back in early 2014 the citizens of Hull began to report sightings of a costumed figure on the streets of the city. "He looked like a great big bloody bat!", reported Brian (46) of Kingswood. "Ay! He must be nithered, in them there tights!" Said Ethel (76) of Beverley Road. Batman had come to Hull. Not Gotham City's brooding vigilante alter-ego of billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, but a big-hearted (and self confessed "grumpy bugger") gas engineer from Hull, Simon Moreton. After his godson was diagnosed with diabetes, Simon decided to raise money for the local charity Hull and East Yorkshire (Hey) Kids Diabetes. Raising money and awareness of the disease, he hit the streets of the city in his new alter-ego Hull Batman. Why Batman? Simon says, "Batman suits me perfectly. I get to wear a mask to hide my ugly mug."
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Simon's original goal was to raise £500 for the charity. As well as street collections and donations from local companies, there was a Humber Bridge Walk. In June 2014, along with local beauty queen Lucy Heath, Simon and over a 100 other people, they walked, jogged and bounced on spacehoppers across the Humber Bridge. Simon started to become a regular (masked) face on the streets of the city, and a feature of the Hull Daily Mail. Being nominated for the Pride of Yorkshire Award in the July of 2014.
By September 2014, Simon with the help of side-kick Robin, brother-in-law Liam Watson, the money raised for charity was getting well up towards £1400. Other charities were benefiting from the money raised, including Special Stars Foundation, helping local kids with disabilities in the Hull and East Yorkshire area. But by September the Hull Daily Mail reported that Simon was possibly going to "hang up his cape". What would Hull do without Batman and Robin? Who would spread the love on the streets of Hull? |
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Fear not good citizens of Hull! By November Hull Batman was spotted zipping around the streets of the city on a Batcycle. And he was championing a new cause, raising awareness of the importance of wearing cycling helmets. Simon approached local cycle shops around the city asking them if they would offer a discount on cycling helmets if people mentioned "Hull Batman" when they came in to buy one.
By January 2015, the first shop signed up the idea, East Coast Bicycles on Princes Avenue. Followed in days by Bob's Bikes on Beverley Road, Ken Ellerker's on Chanterlands Ave and Jobes Cycles on both Holderness & Anlaby Road. The scheme was building momentum. By February Cliff Pratt's on Spring Bank and Richardsons Cycles on Marfleet Lane had also agreed to be involved in the discount scheme. Simon keeps himself busy. As well as working full-time, his on-going awareness raising and charitable work, he is hoping to bring some fun to kids in hospital in May this year. Along with side-kick Robin, Hull Batman plans to join up with other local charity costumed superhero Hull Spiderman. "One Hull Of A City" wishes our local costumed superhero and others that have taken to wearing tights for charity, all the best. Find Hull Batman on facebook. |
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Join the One Hull Of A City facebook group, and spread the word!
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