We’ve transported giant rodents to celebrate Hull’s giants of rock!

Quick witted, sharp and resourceful, the much-maligned rat has been making star appearances throughout East Yorkshire with help from Neill & Brown.

As one of the better known European logistics companies, we enjoyed this gnawinglyunusual job on our home patch as a delivery partner to the region’s latest high-profile arts project A Mischief of Rats. We managed the operation of distributing these spectacular 6-foot, artist-designed rodent sculptures, as well as sponsoring Copper Colin which is now being admired by the many visitors to Hessle Foreshore beauty spot.

Copper Colin was given his sparkling personality by artist Amy Bourbon who was inspired by the tradition of copperplate printing. One of 45 special rats, he has a copper base, layered with hand-drawn depictions of landmarks from Hull, Beverley and the East Yorkshire coastline. These drawings represent the intricate engravings that were meticulously etched onto copperplates.

The idea behind celebrating these curious creatures came from Hull’s rock music icons Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey who played in The Rats, a much-loved Hull band in the 60s and 70s. The three went on to become David Bowie’s Spiders from Mars. Both Mick and Trevor died of cancer, and The Mischief of Rats’ is providing fitting support to local charity the Daisy Appeal, which provides life-saving technology to support people living with cancer, heart disease and dementia.

It’s not the first time Neill & Brown has been involved in unusual freight. In our 100-plus year history, we have distributed a huge range of goods including boats, helicopters, Tuk Tuks and life-size fibreglass mammals including giraffes, lions and tigers. In 1944, weworked with the US army to ensure armaments used in the first stage of the liberation of Europe were transported safely.

Neill & Brown provides European freight forwarding services and is one of the Humber region’s most successful warehousing and distribution companies. We provide daily timed collections and deliveries throughout the UK and Europe via our own fleet and loyal drivers connecting with our network of trusted European partners.

Day to day, we move products ranging from food ingredients, pharmaceuticals and general cargoes, to chemicals, hazardous and specialist loads.

Visit https://amischiefofrats.co.uk/ for more on these long tailed, (even cute) creations and how to download the ‘Find a Rat’ app.

Happy hunting!

Insta:

@amybourbonart (artist for Copper Colin)

@amischiefofrats2025

@neillandbrown