SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

What a fantastic idea this site is!I hope it can help with my research into an old leeds character called 'Professor' Marks ?I know he was a boxing 'promoter' who had a gym in one of the yards off Lower Briggate sometime in the 1930s. I say promoter in inverted commas as I understand that his reputation for the welfare of his fighters left a lot to be desired, many ending up with brain damage, or 'punch drunk' as it was then known.I also believe he was a local celebrity who was courted by the society folk of Leeds. I have seen a photo of him at the Queens Hotel sometime in the late 30s - he had a trick where he challenged people to lift him off of the ground and he would imagine himself so heavy they couldn't !If anyone has any info, conjecture, rumour or hard facts I would be very grateful if they could share.Oh.. and secretleeds team....how about a forum of on old Leeds characters?Once again all power to your elbow with this site!

Thanks for the enthusiastic comments. We'll see the kind of responses you get & maybe put a 'Characters of Leeds' thread on there...

afraid i dont know anything about professor marks but i do remember a couple of leeds characters . down by w h smith there used to be a fountain where the raised seating area is now and this was the pitch of an evening post seller in the 80's who would shout all day things like im having a terrible day , wont you buy my evening post, ive got a wife and kids to feed etc ... absolute genius i reckon . a little further down by m and s entrance was busker bill who stood singing un accompanied in all weathers raising money for charity . solid work that . eeeeee it takes me back heh

There was a little Scottish fella who was obviously not right in the old noggin. He used to scittle around the the town centre occasionally turning around and delivering a volley of politicial abuse aimed at Thatcher. He was usually right too. I think he is still around but may have changed his medication.Cider Woman who used to hang around Bond Court and Russell Street during the day in the late 80's railling loudly against the world at the top of her (or was it a he) voice.The bloke who worked in the Mister Minit on Boar Lane who had "Erchie" tattoed on his knuckles was a character too.

Did Busker Bill look a bit like Uncle Albert from Only Fools & Horses?

I think the 'Busker Bill' you refer to was in fact Danny Freeman.As you say Munki he looked like Uncle Albert on OFH.Sadly he passed away about a year ago having raised thousands for charity.I believe he was honoured by the Queen for his efforts (MBE?)

Sorry should have said BEM.Still hoping to hear about Prof Marks, but it is amazing how many real characters we have and have had in Leeds!

When I was growing up in Woodhouse in the sixties, there was a chap who used to ride his horse up and down Woodhouse Street dressed in a wild west outfit calling out greetings to passers by. He was called Mr. Calvert. When he didn't have his horse, he would go to a busy bus stop and do a song and dance routine to entertain the bus queue.At one point, he bought a little green gipsy caravan, hitched his horse to it and would take the kids on rides to Woodhouse Moor and back.All totally harmless but I don't think he'd get away with that these days.

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!

Hi again. Just had a thought, was it woodbine lizzie and not lilly?Me memory again!