Local Characters

Miss Perec · Post by **Miss Perec** » Wed 11 Jul, 2007 2:13 pm

dERvXeroX wrote: Mungo wrote: Hi,When I was at Uni (Leeds Met between 1999 and 2002) there was an unusual bloke who used to come in the union bar for a pint at some point every Friday afternoon. I think he did a weekly crawl of the student-ey pubs up Otley Road.He wore cowboy boots, skin-tight black stonewashed (or similar) jeans and a big furry jacket, and he had long hair although he was receding quite severely and was at least mid forties age-wise. His whole appearance was a sort of 80's glam metal Guns n' Roses stylee.He never really spoke to anyone, except on one occaision I saw him talking to a bloke called Frank, who was a local character I vaguely knew in the pubs round Pontefract when I lived there (God know's what he was doing in the Leeds Met Union bar).I used to wonder what his story was, but never got round to asking. Has anyone ever seem him around? Yeah, that would be "cider" Paul He's been around for years.You'll often see him drinking cheap cider outside the Dry Dock with just about anyone. I've also seen him in the Fenton and "Rock of Ages"I'm sure he's in his 50's now.To talk to, he's quite well spoken and a little flamboyant.He used to go round the pubs selling CD's out of 3 tatty carrier bags.He once went berserk in Nafees restaurant. (in the 80's) In spite of knowing him to talk to for years I don't know anyone who knows much about him which leaves it wide open to all manner of rumour and speculation.My favourite myth is, he's a qualified solicitor who was in a terrible car crash that brain damaged him and killed his pretty wife.Ill see if I can get a picture of him tonight, I'm sure he wont mind. Sorry to explode the myth but there is no wife and car crash. My dad has known him over 25 years, he was best man at my parent's wedding, hence I have known him all my life. Family friend, clever bloke, and thoroughly nice chap.

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 5:11 pm

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

JanCee · Post by **JanCee** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 8:49 pm

magic · Post by **magic** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 9:29 pm

Quite a few messages regarding Woodbine Lizzie in a previous thread headed 'Professor' Marks. Take a look, good read.

Ian R P · Post by **Ian R P** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 10:43 pm

LS13 wrote: I've got a couple--Big black guy, used to play on the giant chess board outside the Art Gallery in the 80s. Used to be bare foot all year, and for most of the year bare chested too. Sometimes used to see him walking from town up towards Scott Hall/Chapeltown.Also, a more recent one--Stud man. Middle aged bloke who's head is just full of piercings. I spoke to him in The Angel Pub and he told me he's got 300 piercings in his face. Put me right off my pork scratchings. He was actaully a nice bloke and let me take a picture of him on my phone. I'll put it up if someone can tell me how ...!? Yeah, I remember the black guy. He never wore a top or shoes whatever the weather! It's a long time since I've seen him though.It's great to read about so many characters.

TABBYCAT · Post by **TABBYCAT** » Thu 12 Jul, 2007 10:53 pm

Suprised you remember Woddbine Liz from the 50's and 60's arry she died in 1947!!!

LS13 · Post by **LS13** » Sun 15 Jul, 2007 7:37 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 is mentioned in Kester Aspdens book on the death of David Oluwale--"the memory of PC568 William 'Rocking Horse' Bartle, who policed the Richmond Hill/Bank area between 1907 and 1933, endured long into the 20th century. Elderly residents on Quarry Hill flats remembered with affection the bobby who'd clipped their ears as kids;swinging his great cape around his head he'd scattered many a rabble.He avoided the starchy formalities of law and settled matters with his lump hammer fist."Other later police characters from the 50's and 60's mentioned are Eric 'moose' walker,Derek 'Big Red' Holmes and Eric 'Buffer' Brailsford. They sound more like contenders for the World Darts Championship that upholders of the law!

stevief · Post by **stevief** » Sun 15 Jul, 2007 9:46 pm

carrotol wrote: Does any one remember/know queer Barry (i'm not being nasty, it's what everyone called him, and he answered to it). He was around when my Mum was young and when I worked In William Hills he used to come in there. He sometimes used to pretend to walk a dog at the end of an empty lead. Lovely guy, came across as very camp, but God help anyone who took the piss, he was a real tough nut Would that be Barry Womack(?)? He used to frequent various pubs on Tong Road.I heard a storyconcerning his fighting reputation.Apparently he fought and beat John Manuel,who used to be one of the hard men of Leeds.(This is proberbly third-hand info.and will be instantly be retracted if challenged!)

farbank · Post by **farbank** » Mon 16 Jul, 2007 4:53 pm

' Rocking Horse' got his nickname for apparently always rocking back and forwards on his heels when he spoke to anyone. This bit of info came from my dad who fell foul of him as an 11yr. old , when he lived in Easy Gr. up East St.Dad was paid 1/2d. to ' dog-out' by the Sunday afternoon pitch & toss school. But R/H came up behind him through the midden yard, and nabbed him. Besides the obligatory clip round the lug, PC Bartle took him home with a warning to his mum [my grandma], about his future behaviour.We saw him many years later, when I was just a youngster. Probably about 1946/7. And he didn't live far from us. He lived in Berkeley Mt. just off Strathmore Dr. And as in those days long gone, he still remembered my dad. And always had a word to say hello.And to JANCEE; it was always 'Fresh air Shadwell' that wrote in the Evening Press.

JanCee · Post by **JanCee** » Mon 16 Jul, 2007 5:47 pm

farbank wrote: And to JANCEE; it was always 'Fresh air Shadwell' that wrote in the Evening Press. Yes! Ta muchly.