Local Characters

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Thu 17 Jan, 2008 10:27 pm

Si wrote: 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. I don't remember that, but I do remember a barber's on Meadow Lane called if I'm not mistaken "Tomlinson's Tonsorial Emporium" I never went in but we used to pass it on the 52/53 bus. It looked very old fashioned.

stevief · Post by **stevief** » Thu 17 Jan, 2008 10:43 pm

The barbers pole is just visible on the extreme left of this photo.It's the premises of Archibald Townell,my Dad took me there once or twice,I had to sit on a board across the arms of the barbers chair.He used to shave the nape of the neck with a cut-throat razor,the first time I ever saw one.

Si · Post by Si » Fri 18 Jan, 2008 9:32 am

Yeah, it was like that at Alf's. He'd then finish off with a taper. I can still smell the singeing hair! There were porn mags in the waiting room, which I wasn't allowed to look at!"Anything for the weekend, sir?"

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Fri 18 Jan, 2008 7:41 pm

JanCee wrote: Scandy Bramley wrote: JanCee wrote: I went to that disco once or twice! Memory slightly fogged though.... What years, JanCee - we may "know" each other!?!? I'm talking 1971 to 1974 here.Friday nights in the Refec at the Poly was band night...Spirit, BeBop Deluxe, Mike Absolom, Wild Angels, Michael Chapman, Stackridge, et all - Saturday night in the Common Room was simply "Hotsnot Disco", playing T.Rex, Hawkwind, Alex Harvey, Family, Led Zeppelin etc. That was my era. on another thread that I saw Bebop Deluxe at the Fairway. And we used to go up to the Staging Post and Fforde Grene to see bands too. The mighty Burlesque you should have seen, and especially local band GYGAFO who were named after the initials of what several venues told them to do before they'd finished playing....

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Fri 18 Jan, 2008 8:36 pm

People visiting Leeds Bus Station or catching the 443/44 bus through Rothwell to Wakefield/ Barnsley will have encountered the rather large gent with a moustache who travels virtually every other day to Whitby and back, and who tells everyone about bus delays, bus changes etc as well as mamaging to insinuate himself into any conversation within 3 seats of himself! he lives in Rothwell somewhere and usually gets off at the stop by the War memorial.

stevief · Post by **stevief** » Fri 18 Jan, 2008 8:44 pm

The Parksider wrote: JanCee wrote: Scandy Bramley wrote: JanCee wrote: I went to that disco once or twice! Memory slightly fogged though.... What years, JanCee - we may "know" each other!?!? I'm talking 1971 to 1974 here.Friday nights in the Refec at the Poly was band night...Spirit, BeBop Deluxe, Mike Absolom, Wild Angels, Michael Chapman, Stackridge, et all - Saturday night in the Common Room was simply "Hotsnot Disco", playing T.Rex, Hawkwind, Alex Harvey, Family, Led Zeppelin etc. That was my era. on another thread that I saw Bebop Deluxe at the Fairway. And we used to go up to the Staging Post and Fforde Grene to see bands too. The mighty Burlesque you should have seen, and especially local band GYGAFO who were named after the initials of what several venues told them to do before they'd finished playing.... I saw GYGAFO once or thrice.The lead guitarist got fatter each timeI saw them,on the last occasion he played the entire set sat in an armchair.

stevief · Post by **stevief** » Fri 18 Jan, 2008 8:50 pm

Steve Jones wrote: People visiting Leeds Bus Station or catching the 443/44 bus through Rothwell to Wakefield/ Barnsley will have encountered the rather large gent with a moustache who travels virtually every other day to Whitby and back, and who tells everyone about bus delays, bus changes etc as well as mamaging to insinuate himself into any conversation within 3 seats of himself! he lives in Rothwell somewhere and usually gets off at the stop by the War memorial. Does anyone remember the story about an old lad who travelled to Whitby,by bus,two or three times a week just to sample a local delicacy-kippers.I think he lived in Wakefield,caught a bus to Leedsthen changed for Whitby.The bus company gave him free travel when they learned the story.

Yorkshireranger · Post by **Yorkshireranger** » Fri 18 Jan, 2008 9:20 pm

With regards to Carrotol's question about queer Barry, if its the same guy he used to frequent the Beech and Crown pubs on Tong Road, infact most pubs from the Butterbowl, Smythes Arms, White Lion etc any pubs in Farnley/Wortley. He used to enjoy a bottle or two of Barley Wine, he even carried his own goblet to drink from, he was attired in badges along each lapel on his jacket, mainley supporting his political preference of Anti-Nazi League and various communist parties, he used to provide the "Socialist Worker" wherever he went. He was know to most of us as "Barry the badge", bent as a nine bob note, but a genuine guy, who could handle himself, had a look of Marc Bolan especially with his corkscrew hair style.As a teenager I used to rib him about his left wing policies and taunt him with right wing properganda, he would attempt to chase us but due to his expanding waistline he was unable to catch us.Last saw him in the eighties, funny how things fall back into place.Remember he used to hang around with some of the hardest men in the area, all well known names in Wortley/Farnley, such as Wally Newton, Mick Steel, Jonnie Holmes etc.Any information regarding him would be great

Yorkshireranger · Post by **Yorkshireranger** » Fri 18 Jan, 2008 9:36 pm

Carrotol, I am assuming that your in your early fifties, as you seem to have a lot of similar memories as myself,The roadsweeper was a thin guy who originally used to work as a team with a very large happy Black guy, they used to go everywhere together, the black guy died, saw for a year or so after his mate died, not seen for over thirty years or more, would assume hes been dead most of that time

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Sat 19 Jan, 2008 4:27 pm

Hi Yorkshireranger and Carrotol!Check the NEW Yorkshire Diary by Neil Hudson(taken over From John Thorpe),In Tonight's Evening Post. Great picture of Billy Stockdalethe Singing Roadsweeper on Armley Town Street!Wonder if it's the guy you mean?Hope so!CheersArry