'Professor' Marks

south of the river · Post by **south of the river** » Mon 02 Apr, 2007 9:29 pm

it was Woodbine Lizzy..My dad talked about her...not sure of the dates maybe the forties...she hung around the Whip pub yard....that was a men only pub on Duncan streer near the Corn exchange (those were the days lol)..She begged for cigarettes and if you ignored her you got the sharp end of her tongue...

TABBYCAT · Post by **TABBYCAT** » Tue 03 Apr, 2007 12:32 am

Woodbine Liz real name Alice Porter rumour has it she was the wife of a well to do doctor but left him to wander the city center after he had an affair. My dad met her quite a few times and apart from cadging Woodies she would ask "have you got a meg (halfpenny)?

AliceCake · Post by **AliceCake** » Tue 03 Apr, 2007 2:36 pm

Yeah, Woodbine Lizzy's real name was Alice Porter. I know that because that is my name x

Troll · Post by **Troll** » Tue 03 Apr, 2007 9:43 pm

Hi, if you go to this website you can get a look at what Woodbine Lizzie looked like. Also some info on her.www.leedstapestry.org.ukText taken from above website:Also known as Tramway Liz, she was born Alice Porter in Stanningley. She married in 1907 and had 6 children but when her marriage broke down she went back to her parents for a while then at the age of 38 took to the open life. She walked to London and back and then became a tramp, sleeping in a tent on an allotment at first, then in shelters on Woodhouse Ridge and Moor. Her usual stamping ground was Whip Yard (Duncan Street), Queen Street Chapel and Boar Lane. She was often taken, by the police, to the Town Hall Bridewell for a good wash. She died in 1947.Info www.leedstapestry.org.ukSorry don't know how to put a link to the site from here. You will need to search for Woodbine Lizzie on the site to find the page for her.Also found out that during the war (ww2) an army transporter was named after her.

munki · Post by **munki** » Tue 03 Apr, 2007 10:02 pm

I'm sure I've seen a photo of Woodbine Lizzie somewhere. Can anyone find one?

Troll · Post by **Troll** » Fri 06 Apr, 2007 12:17 pm

Hi, here is an image of Woodbine Lizzie (a tapestry) from the leeds tapestry 2000 website at www.leedstapestry.org.uk

Yorkie · Post by **Yorkie** » Sat 21 Apr, 2007 3:10 pm

TABBYCAT wrote: Woodbine Liz real name Alice Porter rumour has it she was the wife of a well to do doctor but left him to wander the city center after he had an affair. My dad met her quite a few times and apart from cadging Woodies she would ask "have you got a meg (halfpenny)? Another rumour was that she'd been the wife of a high-ranking naval officer. Other famous characters:Barnsley BobLeeds BillySqueaker'The Sergeant Major' - a woman who used to march down the streets with a miltary beret on her head

michael-k · Post by **michael-k** » Sun 22 Apr, 2007 2:00 pm

What about David Yellow. He used to wander about the city with his guitar, for all I know he still does, but not having lived in Leeds for some years I couldn't tell you.

pid · Post by **pid** » Sun 22 Apr, 2007 8:10 pm

good lord id forgotten about him . he used to busk outside the lounge cinema havent seen him for years tho

theraven1979 · Post by **theraven1979** » Tue 17 Jul, 2007 4:10 pm

I think I know who you mean. About 15 years ago she'd sometimes be on the 54 bus into Morley and she'd smoke constantly and be wretching all the way and talking very loudly to the silent suits or shoppers on their way home. Presumably long gone?What about that guy who looked like Uncle Albert off Only Fools And Horses who used to sing outside the old HMV / Marks And Spencers - he used to sing with real gusto and I think was collecting money for charity.I think someone mentioned "Mick Artistic" that guy was really annoying "Hi I'm Mick Artistic....I do drawings on paper bags" Yeah go away now!Have we mentioned the old girl with the market stall (handbags I think) who used to have this OTT Bee-hive hair do. I remember my mate had seen her and told me to walk to her stall and look at the women working there . In my defense I was about 14 at the time. Troll wrote: Hi, there was a woman called fag ash lil, don't know her real name. She would hang around Leeds market. Not sure if I remember her or not, but my dad would mention her, don't know when she was about.Was another woman (or was it the same one? Have I mixed up the names?) called woodbine lilly.Thats the trouble with memories, things can get a bit mixed up!