Local Characters

Baggins · Post by **Baggins** » Tue 15 Jan, 2008 9:59 am

Rocking Horse (William Bartle)was the 2952nd policeman to join the Leeds City Force. He was sworn in on the 30th Aug 1907. He was born at Morton Bank nr Howarth in 1882 and died in 1956. He was not a huge man as stated but was actually 5'9'' with Blue eyes, Brown hair and a fresh complection. He lived for some time at Penraevon Place at the bottom of Roundhay Road and later in the Elfords. He married a woman called Ethel Gertrude Sims at St Aidens church, Roundhay Road on 20th April 1918 and they lived at 78 Elford Place. He was known for his un PC (for a PC that is) methods of dealing with the baddies. Rocking Horse had the number 568 and when I was a police officer in the 60s and 70s the last Leeds City officer to carry that number was Mick Warne. Mick has been retired for quite some years now but still lives in West Leeds, I spoke to him on the phone not too long ago.

Baggins · Post by **Baggins** » Tue 15 Jan, 2008 9:59 am

Rocking Horse (William Bartle)was the 2952nd policeman to join the Leeds City Force. He was sworn in on the 30th Aug 1907. He was born at Morton Bank nr Howarth in 1882 and died in 1956. He was not a huge man as stated but was actually 5'9'' with Blue eyes, Brown hair and a fresh complection. He lived for some time at Penraevon Place at the bottom of Roundhay Road and later in the Elfords. He married a woman called Ethel Gertrude Sims at St Aidens church, Roundhay Road on 20th April 1918 and they lived at 78 Elford Place. He was known for his un PC (for a PC that is) methods of dealing with the baddies. Rocking Horse had the number 568 and when I was a police officer in the 60s and 70s the last Leeds City officer to carry that number was Mick Warne. Mick has been retired for quite some years now but still lives in West Leeds, I spoke to him on the phone not too long ago.

Baggins · Post by **Baggins** » Tue 15 Jan, 2008 10:00 am

Rocking Horse (William Bartle)was the 2952nd policeman to join the Leeds City Force. He was sworn in on the 30th Aug 1907. He was born at Morton Bank nr Howarth in 1882 and died in 1956. He was not a huge man as stated but was actually 5'9'' with Blue eyes, Brown hair and a fresh complection. He lived for some time at Penraevon Place at the bottom of Roundhay Road and later in the Elfords.

kierentc · Post by **kierentc** » Tue 15 Jan, 2008 5:52 pm

this thread is bringing back some memories! i remember the bare footed/chested black guy. he had really long dreads. he must have been freezing in february! i wonder what happened to him?and the 'singing' YEP sellers...'po'...evenin' po'....'im having a terrible day! and i've loads left!'

zip55 · Post by **zip55** » Tue 15 Jan, 2008 10:16 pm

The YEP seller ouside Lewises on a Saturday (in the early 70s'). 'Get yer late night final'.

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 15 Jan, 2008 10:35 pm

zip55 wrote: The YEP seller ouside Lewises on a Saturday (in the early 70s'). 'Get yer late night final'. I remember him! VERY vocal and hard selling as though he couldn't wait to be done and away home!

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Tue 15 Jan, 2008 11:58 pm

remember also all the characters/con-men/traders who used to congregate outside the former precinct pub area in town come Christmas time? you could get all-sorts of stuff for sale they seemed to just turn up with cardboard boxes yelling on the top of there voices like del boy and then vanish like David Copperfield when the law turned up!

Baggins · Post by **Baggins** » Wed 16 Jan, 2008 9:44 am

Continuing from my Rocking Horse info, I knew Big Red he was a Supt when I was in the job and also Moose Walker, all the top guns in the job had nicknames Black Sam was David Noble, The Poison Dwarf, Hoss Hanson. I also knew Buffer Brailsford very well, we worked together out of Dewsbury Road police station. We were the Gypsy Officers for about a year just dealing with the travelling fraternity in the South side of Leeds. Buffer had been a bit of a boxer in his younger days and it was said that he worked the fairgrounds taking on all comers. He said that he had fought [edited for content] Tiger in his day !! He was a big man and rolled from side to side when he walked, he was certainly good to have around when there was any trouble. I suppose he retired in the mid 70s and the last time I saw him he was driving a truck. If he's still alive he'll be in his eighties. Baggins

Si · Post by Si » Wed 16 Jan, 2008 11:08 am

Did anyone on here have their hair cut by Alf in Armley in the 60s? His barber shop was near the jail, if memory serves. He had two red leather and chrome barber's chairs, a green baize table with his cut-throats arranged on it and a hot towel machine - the works. He was quite short, had black brylcreemed hair and a pencil moustache, and chain-smoked all over you as he worked! My dad used to drag me there for a hair cut before school. I'm afraid I can't remember his surname.

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Thu 17 Jan, 2008 10:18 pm

Baggins wrote: Continuing from my Rocking Horse info, I knew Big Red he was a Supt when I was in the job and also Moose Walker, all the top guns in the job had nicknames Black Sam was David Noble, The Poison Dwarf, Hoss Hanson. I also knew Buffer Brailsford very well, we worked together out of Dewsbury Road police station. We were the Gypsy Officers for about a year just dealing with the travelling fraternity in the South side of Leeds. Buffer had been a bit of a boxer in his younger days and it was said that he worked the fairgrounds taking on all comers. He said that he had fought [edited for content] Tiger in his day !! He was a big man and rolled from side to side when he walked, he was certainly good to have around when there was any trouble. I suppose he retired in the mid 70s and the last time I saw him he was driving a truck. If he's still alive he'll be in his eighties. Baggins did you live in a copy of the beano....