'Professor' Marks

rikj · Post by **rikj** » Sat 04 Aug, 2007 8:16 pm

Not sure which thread to put this in as Woodbine Lizzie has been mentioned in a couple. Anyhow, here she is.

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Sat 04 Aug, 2007 9:31 pm

theraven1979 wrote: I think I know who you mean. About 15 years ago she'd sometimes be on the 54 bus into Morley and she'd smoke constantly and be wretching all the way and talking very loudly to the silent suits or shoppers on their way home. Presumably long gone?What about that guy who looked like Uncle Albert off Only Fools And Horses who used to sing outside the old HMV / Marks And Spencers - he used to sing with real gusto and I think was collecting money for charity.I think someone mentioned "Mick Artistic" that guy was really annoying "Hi I'm Mick Artistic....I do drawings on paper bags" Yeah go away now!Have we mentioned the old girl with the market stall (handbags I think) who used to have this OTT Bee-hive hair do. I remember my mate had seen her and told me to walk to her stall and look at the women working there . In my defense I was about 14 at the time. Troll wrote: 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! I remember in the late 80s early 90s there was a woman who used to sit on the stairwell in the Kirkgate enterance of the top market, (near the beehive haired lady, who incedientally lives in the stainburns and has now removed the hive!) she always looked withdrawn and about to burst into tears. Wonder whatever happened to her....

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Sat 04 Aug, 2007 9:55 pm

[I remember in the late 80s early 90s there was a woman who used to sit on the stairwell in the Kirkgate enterance of the top market, (near the beehive haired lady, who incedientally lives in the stainburns and has now removed the hive!) she always looked withdrawn and about to burst into tears. Wonder whatever happened to her....she's still around if its the same women i seen her on saturday she was sat facing that cheap jewellers at the top of the market looking withdrawn and as if indeed she was about to starting balling her eyes out lol

farbank · Post by **farbank** » Sun 05 Aug, 2007 4:41 pm

What about the brothers Bendon.? Harry and Archie. Harry the inimitable joker/comedian. And Archie the quiet, serious one. And a good singer too. They worked many Leeds pubs and bars with their brand of comedy and entertainment.Harrys daytime job was window cleaning in Leeds centre. And many a time when a tram stopped at the lights, Harry would take his leather and pointer ladder, and singing at the top of his voice, would proceed to give the tram windows a wash.[usually the window where a young girl was sitting by].I know Harry died some years ago now. And the last time I saw Archie was at the seaside .Singing in a talent competition.

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 26 Aug, 2007 11:13 pm

Brandy wrote: [I remember in the late 80s early 90s there was a woman who used to sit on the stairwell in the Kirkgate enterance of the top market, (near the beehive haired lady, who incedientally lives in the stainburns and has now removed the hive!) she always looked withdrawn and about to burst into tears. Wonder whatever happened to her....she's still around if its the same women i seen her on saturday she was sat facing that cheap jewellers at the top of the market looking withdrawn and as if indeed she was about to starting balling her eyes out lol that is rachael,i mentioned her in lost charachters thread,wonder where she went?the bee hive lady was a mate of my mums,as my mum and dad both worked in the market for many years,and i spent years therewith them,when not at school.

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 26 Aug, 2007 11:15 pm

farbank wrote: What about the brothers Bendon.? Harry and Archie. Harry the inimitable joker/comedian. And Archie the quiet, serious one. And a good singer too. They worked many Leeds pubs and bars with their brand of comedy and entertainment.Harrys daytime job was window cleaning in Leeds centre. And many a time when a tram stopped at the lights, Harry would take his leather and pointer ladder, and singing at the top of his voice, would proceed to give the tram windows a wash.[usually the window where a young girl was sitting by].I know Harry died some years ago now. And the last time I saw Archie was at the seaside .Singing in a talent competition. just found this thread,i mentioned this tale myself in lost charachters thread,another amazing friend of my dads!

scooby · Post by **scooby** » Tue 16 Oct, 2007 8:38 pm

farbank wrote: What about the brothers Bendon.? Harry and Archie. Harry the inimitable joker/comedian. And Archie the quiet, serious one. And a good singer too. They worked many Leeds pubs and bars with their brand of comedy and entertainment.Harrys daytime job was window cleaning in Leeds centre. And many a time when a tram stopped at the lights, Harry would take his leather and pointer ladder, and singing at the top of his voice, would proceed to give the tram windows a wash.[usually the window where a young girl was sitting by].I know Harry died some years ago now. And the last time I saw Archie was at the seaside .Singing in a talent competition. Hi Harry bendon Mclean died July 1994 in Bradford, im sure Archie is still alive. I am Harry's Grandaughter and would really like to find out as much as i can about my Grandad. I wonder why he ended up in Bradford, i know he was a local tramp in Leeds, but i have pictures of him at my mum and dads wedding, he was a smart, good looking tall chap, and apartently played the accordian at the reception. I believe he was the first busker allowed in Ascot and also featured on Jim'll fix it. I have just read somewhere that he also featured on Look North other side of xmas as a tramp, if anyone knows how i could find this footage i would be trully grateful.

Jimbo5553 · Post by **Jimbo5553** » Wed 17 Oct, 2007 1:48 pm

Troll wrote: Hi, if you go to this website you can get a look at what Woodbine Lizzie looked like. Also some info on her.www.leedstapestry.org.ukText taken from above website:Also known as Tramway Liz, she was born Alice Porter in Stanningley. She married in 1907 and had 6 children but when her marriage broke down she went back to her parents for a while then at the age of 38 took to the open life. She walked to London and back and then became a tramp, sleeping in a tent on an allotment at first, then in shelters on Woodhouse Ridge and Moor. Her usual stamping ground was Whip Yard (Duncan Street), Queen Street Chapel and Boar Lane. She was often taken, by the police, to the Town Hall Bridewell for a good wash. She died in 1947.Info www.leedstapestry.org.ukSorry don't know how to put a link to the site from here. You will need to search for Woodbine Lizzie on the site to find the page for her.Also found out that during the war (ww2) an army transporter was named after her. She was the daughter of Fred Porter who was the landlord of The Butchers Arms Church Lane Pudsey during the 1920's and 30'sjimbo

Neil W · Post by **Neil W** » Fri 16 Nov, 2007 8:58 pm

Only just found original query from Dave H so apologies for late comment.I went to Marks gym when I was still at school-in about 1967.Many local pro boxers & wrestlers trained there.Gym was down one of alleys leading to a pub on left of lower Briggate as you walked down the hill.I think the entrance was between Wigfalls electrical & Watson Cairns bike shop.Louis Marks trained fighters from the Brunswick Stadium near North Street in 1930s I believeI remember the photo you mention but as I recall it was a woman called the Great Resisto or Madame Resisto who had a challenge to anyone who could lift her off the ground.Although she was only average height & weight no-one could lift her..Prof Marks was first to win challenge & I think he got 50 Guineas as prize.In the 1930s this passed as entertainment!-Still better than Big Brother! Hope info of help to DaveH.

tapestry · Post by **tapestry** » Wed 10 Mar, 2010 7:57 pm

I've just seen the reference to Leeds Tapestry on this site. If anyone has any information to add to the background of the subjects on the various panels they can visit the Tapestry Bloghttp://www.leedstapestry.blogspot.comWe're hoping that the Tapestry can be a good pictorial and written archive for the future. Almost 10 years after the completion of the panels would you have different people on the local faces panel for instance - with reasons for choicesTapestry