But of just as much significance and importance to the history of Bridlington are numerous other wrecks, which have foundered and now rest in the depths of the briny along our coast, each with its own story to tell.

The waters in this area hide many unknown tales of last voyages and attract numerous families to Bridlington every year as the area is a premier dive site in this country, yet so little is written about them, until now.

Bill Woolford, 57, who has the experience of almost 40 years of diving under his belt, is writing a number of occasional features for the Free Press which will tell the stories behind some of these wrecks.

The first in this series tells the story of HMS Fairy.

Many readers will have seen, or remember seeing, the gun salvaged from HMS Fairy which was mounted and displayed on the south side of the harbour for many years.

Bill Woolford, of Butts Close, Bridlington, has even appeared on our TV screens through his diving work.

He has appeared as a diver in Brookside, Coronation Street and Emmerdale and in the movies The Full Monty and Spiceworld among others – but he still prefers diving off the east coast.

IT was July 1969, man had just landed on the moon and the whole of the British naval fleet was in Torquay as the Queen was visiting on the royal yacht Britania.

At the same time I was holidaying there with friends.

And it was there, in Torquay, that I did something that would change my life and, later on, my career.

I put my head under water for the very first time – and from that day on I was hooked on the underwater world of Scuba diving.

My inspiration in the early days came from Jacques Custeau, as I watched him on television exploring wrecks all around the world.

After returning from my holidays in Torquay I spent all my spare time diving off Flamborough Head and Bridlington along with my friends.

We have spent the last 38 years researching, finding and diving wrecks off the east coast.

As a result of all those years of experience, it is now that we have decided to put pen to paper and tell you about our exploits while diving.

We would also like to give you an insight into the history and heritage of the wrecks lost off our coast.

We are sure you will find our articles interesting, and I hope you enjoy reading about the wrecks as much as we have had pleasure diving and exploring them.

As I have been diving for a number of years and now do it for a living, I have seen the sport grow and develop and witnessed hundreds of divers and their families visiting Bridlington throughout the summer months, as it is one of the premier dive sites in the UK.

My friends and I continue to dive and research wrecks off our coast as we feel the history and heritage will be lost if we don't record our finds.

With this in mind, we have formed a group – East Yorkshire Sub-sea Heritage Exploration Group (EYSHEG), affiliated to the OT Foundation – and intend to continue our research off our coast.

Many thanks to Tony Pockley (a member of our group) for the use of his dive charter boat Providence in the summer months, as this has been a great asset in helping us find the wrecks we have researched.

Also I would like to thank Langeld (which constructed the pipeline which runs from a Norwegian gasfield to Easington) for its financial support to our group EYSHEG.

Have you got something to get off your chest or someone to praise? You can send us a letter by e-mail at letters@bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk
You can also send a text starting BFPEDITOR followed by a space, your message, name and address, to 84070.

Have you got a problem you would like Linda to try to solve or do you know someone deserving of praise?
Maybe you have got an interesting picture you would like to share with readers or a funny story?
You can send Linda a letter by e-mail at linda.hulbert@yrnltd.co.uk
You can also send Linda a text starting BFPEDITOR followed by a space, your message, name and address, to 84070.

What do you think of this story?
Send a text starting BFPEDITOR followed by a space, your message, name and address, to 84070.
You can e-mail letters@bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk