Hull primary school the first to be awarded the Honorary Alderman David Gemmell OBE education fund to visit The Deep

The fund, awarded by The Deep, has been established in memory of Honorary Alderman David Gemmell OBE (1940-2024), who was Chairman of The Deep from its inception to the time of his sad passing at the end of March 2024. Alongside an esteemed career dedicated to the City of Hull, David was the inspiration behind The Deep. Nearly 30 years on, steered by David’s vision, the world-class aquarium remains one of the UK’s most successful Millennium Projects and has welcomed nearly 10 million visitors to date.

The Education Fund honours David’s memory, and reflects his passion for Hull, its people and its future. Each year, The Deep will fund a Hull school to enjoy an educational workshop and self-guided tour at The Deep, and will cover up to £250 towards travel expenditure. The visit is for 2 groups of up to 36 students (72 total) from the same school.

Stepney Primary School are the first school to have received the Honorary Alderman David Gemmell OBE Education Fund. Their Key Stage 1 and 2 classes explored the effect of plastics on the ocean through hands-on activities and storytelling sessions in The Deep’s interactive educational workshops. Following these, the groups headed into the aquarium to enjoy a self-guided tour before departing.

Joanne Atkinson, Headteacher at Stepney Primary School, said:

"We are incredibly grateful to the Honorary Alderman David Gemmell OBE Education Fund for making this trip possible.”

Without this generous support, it would simply be out of reach for our children to visit The Deep and experience this fantastic learning opportunity."

Katy Duke, Chief Executive Officer at The Deep, said:

“David was dedicated to The Deep’s commitment to marine conservation and education. To recognise David’s unwavering support for our charity, we are proud to have established the Honorary Alderman David Gemmell OBE Education Fund in his memory.”

“This year, we are delighted to be welcoming Stepney Primary School, and look forward to funding future educational visits for Hull schools in David’s honour.”