Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Jim Dunn's in his fifties with three grown-up children. He's led an interesting life. In his interview on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Humberside's Late Show, he reveals how his parents got together. His dad, Jim Dunn snr. met Nellie Gallagher of the Gallagher's travelling fair familiy whilst the fair was visiting Hull's Walker St.

It was quite a wrench for Nellie as she tried to get accustomed to a more static lifestyle when she married Jim's dad. Never quite ridding herself of the travelling bug, during the summer holidays she'd return to her family on the road, taking Jim with her. He'd travel all over Yorkshire and beyond working on the shooting gallery. As a very young boy he wasn't allowed to handle the .22 Winchester rifles but as he grew older he was trusted to carry out the work of looking after the stall on his own.

When Jim was very young, there was an incident remembered in the Dunn family to this day. It was 4am on Christmas day when their house caught fire. Mercifully no-one was injured, but it meant the family had to move out of the home whilst repairs were made. Jim recalls the day and the generosity of the Campbell St. community who rallied round to help the family out, even to the extent of providing Christmas presents for the younger members of the family.

In Jim's photograph taken by his dad, you can see him as a nine-year old flanked by his two best friends at the time Alan (left) and Roy (right) King holding a trophy. The boys were neighbours on Campbell St. off Hessle Road in Hull. The street was bulldozed many years ago and many of the families were moved to the Boothferry estate, where Jim still lives.

The cup they're holding was won by the Eskimo Amateur Rugby League team his father played for. Although Jim recalls with deep affection many people who lived in the area, he has a particular fondness for Alan and Roy.Μύ He said: " These two, I've kept in touch with all my life and they've kept in touch with me. We've knocked each other about a bit as we've grown-up, but you do that sort of thing". He kept up his sporting links with rugby into his late teens and early twenties, but his interests were set to change.

Although an engineer by trade, Jim has a passion for martial arts and in particular Karate. It was at the height of the Bruce Lee craze in 1973 that he discovered his new found pastime. As a blackbelt he took over the St. Nicholas Karate club in West Hull which with a partner has flourished over the last 25 years.

Jim can boastΜύ having helped coach a world champion atΜύ adult level and champions at the junior level too. He said the sport builds confidence and although the sport hasΜύ changed somewhat in what contact is allowed, he's says youngsters get a great deal out of participating. The club organises competitions for young people to take part in too.