Local Characters

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 19 Aug, 2007 8:13 pm

Ian R P wrote: Just read a thread below about a strange man in Harehills. Has anyone here ever seen the walking monk? He's always in sandals and a robe and has been walking all over since at least the late 80,s. I work all over the city and always see him about. Pip your horn and he waves.also, the puppet man on the Dewsbury Road bus. I've often seen him giving a free hand puppet show on the back of the 2 or 3. bloody hell! i have just had a flash back,i do remember the walking monk,aint seen him in over 20yrs,i think i was his postman!.happy days!

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 19 Aug, 2007 8:20 pm

Ian R P wrote: Ok then,What about the guy that used to go round pubs doing Portraits on brown paper bags? Does he still do them? I'm sure it was him on phoenix nights.Also theres Peter (the sheriff) who used to hide behind chairs in the Broadway pub shooting at people saying 'John wayne's coming'.I used to see him until recently, but was told he had sadly passed away.That git with the guitar is a nuisance. he serenaded me on my birthday last year goaded on by my so called mates, then got narky when I refused to pay him!!Also, what happened to Evening Post Vendors that used to shout in funny voices? have they stopped that now? Health and safety etc.There was the one on Commercial Street that was always having a terrible day. i had my portrait done in the fairway hotel,by the brown paper bag man,and i used to ALWAYS talk to the man that was having a terrible day,me and my old work mates used to use his saying when things were not going right..happy days!

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 19 Aug, 2007 8:23 pm

arry awk wrote: Surprised that nobody has mentioned dear old Woodbine Lizzie!I believe she lost a loved one during the 2nd world war and this unbalanced her, mentally.She must be long gone now but she used to trudge along Wellington St from the old Central Station,then 'Tour ' the city centre and Market area, cadging fags from anyone nearby. If nobody 'came up trumps',she'd scour the gutters for old dogends and ask for a light!She was easily recogniseable by her old railwayman's cap,LNER badge,and Worzel Gummidge style clothing!(including Army Boots!) I heard she used to doss down in the pedestrian tunnel which led thru from Talavera Streetto Sutton St. under the railway. It had a staircase halfway along which led up to Holbeck Station. I can remember her from the '40s50s and 60s.There have been a few references to her with pictures,in 'Old Yorkshire Diary' in the YEPost.Arry Awk the whip used to be men only,and lizzie was the only woman allowed in,her photo was behind the bar for years! wonder where it went?

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 19 Aug, 2007 8:29 pm

JanCee wrote: I remember a lot of correspondence about Woodbine Lizzie in the YEP and also about some huge copper known as Rocking Horse.A lot of letters in the YEP were written by someone who signed himself 'Fresh Air' of Kippax. Or I might be getting him mixed up with Sam Wood. Durr, confused meself now. Edit: or was Fresh Air from Swillington? rocking horse was a copper from ashley road police station(now the dock green pub)he was a giant of a man,who SORTED things,rather than arrest you.his 'land' was from the bank (richmond hill) all the way to st james' hospital.he retired once,but they brought him back,'cos he was the only one that could handle the locals.i believe he was still working right into his 70s..happy days!

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 19 Aug, 2007 8:39 pm

anyone remember a couple from the 60s and 70s that used to go round with a chalk board and tell biblical stories on street corners to children,usually on sunday evenings.they would give out pamphlets with quotes from the bible?the man reminded me of the guy from the r-whites advert.or what about rachael? the tramp from the market? my mother in-law once told me that during the war rachael was a beautiful woman,but lost her family and never recovered.

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 19 Aug, 2007 8:41 pm

arry awk wrote: Thanks Magic,Troll ,Tabbycat and Ro-man for all that info re Lizzie!I seem to remember seeing her (PRE1947!) along WellingtonStreet in her railwayman's cap with badge,not at all likethe 'bag lady' style drawing on that site,She always seemed to wear a navy, or black tunic coat and trousers too.Re 'Fagash Lil', surely she was an imaginary character on 'Shut that Door' along with 'Slack Alice!!!'? What was the name of the guy(?)who presented the show? I was asked this in a recent quiz but couldn't remember! Grrr!Arry larry grason me old mate!

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 19 Aug, 2007 8:46 pm

i have not seen the blackman with only trousers on for years,he was bare-foot and semi naked even in winter,think he was from chapletown,i used to see him in harehills lane,and on the big chess boards in town.happy days!

carrotol · Post by **carrotol** » Sun 19 Aug, 2007 9:14 pm

Thanks all for the info on 'wandering woman'. And now you mention it, I saw her in sports centre a while back too doing exactly what you said. She was sat there with all drinks in front of her at once. Poor woman

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Mon 20 Aug, 2007 4:07 pm

has anyone heard of harry bendon? he was the window cleaner for the market buildings and half of town by all accounts.he was also a real tough nut scott,well known in all the town pubs.whilst cleaning windows on vicar lane,a friend shouted hello to him from the top of a bus,harry simply picked up his ladder,propped it against the bus and held a lengthy conversation at eye level with the top deck,bringing the trafic into chaos!now thats a character.

cg2007 · Post by **cg2007** » Mon 20 Aug, 2007 4:36 pm

does anyone remember a man that used to walk around Harehills with no shoes on? he had long hair and a beard? i remember getting really upset when i saw him as a child, feeling really sorry for him. He always used to wear a blue jumper? i remember my mum making up a story that he had been given a new house and new shoes to make me feel better, obviously that was not the case. haven't seen him for years.