Posted: Tue 19 Jun, 2007 9:19 pm
I'm currently reading a book about the death in 1969 of Nigerian tramp David Oluwale, who was apparently a well known figure in Leeds throughout the 60's.As a kid, I had a facination with tramps and used to talk to them whenever I came across one. I remember an old guy called Joe who lived with other old homeless guys in a derelict house on the banks of the river opposite the Adelphi. They were there in the early 80's and we sometimes used to go and sit with them round their fire. He was foreign--polish or german and I believe he was an ex POW.I also remember a lady tramp (not woodbine Lizzie) around Headingley and Meanwood in the early to mid 70's.Another well known character was Harry Bendon/Bendown. I remember him in the early 80's (Look North once did a feature on him at Xmas). He worked the pubs and clubs as a singer in the 50's and 60's and was also a window cleaner. Apparently his party piece was to put his ladders up to a tram windows and give them a clean while at a stop!You don't seem to see many 'real' tramps nowadays which I suppose is a good thing, but the big issue sellers don't seem as interesting as the 'men of the road' of yesteryear.
