local characters

Siliconslave · 24 Oct 2019 at 10:19

JOSH said:
Guildford has/had a bearded lady, not seen her in years though.

got talking to some people years ago and it turns out there was a bearded lady of portsmouth as well - on further investigation it is/was the same lady (Brenda i think?)

Used to have Toy Mic Trev in Cardiff who'd sing his days away into a toy mic on Queens street: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/toy-mic-trev-died-less-14863542

kiteloopy · 24 Oct 2019 at 10:46

Reading has the Elvis fan. If you drive past him, he'll be showing you photos of Elvis at you.

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/who-reading-elvis-met-man-13058956

GGizmo · 24 Oct 2019 at 11:07

There used to be this guy with mental problems that used to walk around the town with his arms out like an airplace, and talk to himself.

I think some of my family used to know his parents. He was harmless but if you didn't know him, he was 6ft and stocky, and when someone like that is mumbling to themselves I think he scared people who didn't know him.

Sadly the last time I heard of him some kids had beaten him up. I'm not sure what happened but I didn't see him again.

ArchAnGeL · 24 Oct 2019 at 11:09

The two from growing up in St Helens that I remember are quite well knows. Purple Aki and Johnny Welly

tom_e · 24 Oct 2019 at 11:10

FBi7 said:
Come to mention it, I haven't seen Wolverhampton's Welly Woman for a while. Always wearing wellies and always seen in the local 'Spoons.

https://m.facebook.com/SpottedWolverhampton/photos/a.129753117228547/138490826354776/?type=3

She died a couple of years ago.

FBi7 · 24 Oct 2019 at 11:25

Hilly said:
I remember seeing 'Fred the tramp' a lot, as I used to drive past the ring road he camped on.

Basically, homeless Polish man, lived on a ring road in a tent. Lots of stories about him, about his money etc; He was apparently an officer during the war and never claimed his pension, so was worth tens of thousands of pounds. But lived in a tent for 30 years, in the hole that is Wolverhampton.

Heard all the same stories. He died a good few years ago and the council flattened his encampment.

tom_e said:
She died a couple of years ago.

That explains why she's not been seen in a while. IIRC (so the story goes) she was a school teacher or lecturer or similar and her child died which sent her wibble. Shame really, but I never once saw her pay for a drink in 'Spoons. (Disclaimer: I don't spend all my time in 'Spoons

)

Hilly · 24 Oct 2019 at 11:35

FBi7 said:
Heard all the same stories. He died a good few years ago and the council flattened his encampment.

That explains why she's not been seen in a while. IIRC (so the story goes) she was a school teacher or lecturer or similar and her child died which sent her wibble. Shame really, but I never once saw her pay for a drink in 'Spoons. (Disclaimer: I don't spend all my time in 'Spoons )

Think he died over 10 years ago now! There does seem to be less and less local characters, maybe because perhaps there's more help for people these days?

FBi7 · 24 Oct 2019 at 11:49

Hilly said:
Think he died over 10 years ago now! There does seem to be less and less local characters, maybe because perhaps there's more help for people these days?

I think you're right. Here's his Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Józef_Stawinoga

Occupation: Hermit

sk8board_pete · 24 Oct 2019 at 11:54

I'll always remember in Nottingham there used to be an old homeless man playing the xylophone. Think quite a following at one point.

Hilly · 24 Oct 2019 at 11:54

FBi7 said:
I think you're right. Here's his Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Józef_Stawinoga

Seeing his face brings back memories!

Tek81 · 24 Oct 2019 at 12:05

I remember the Ferryhill centurion; I live just outside of the village. I used to see him frequently on my way back from work, but I've not seen him for a while. Apparently, the current centurion is/was carrying on a tradition started originally by his dad.

ttaskmaster · 24 Oct 2019 at 12:51

adolf hamster said:
we have a fella that walks everywhere, and i mean everywhere, miles and miles.

That was most of us until we could afford a car... No money for the bus and, with all the traffic, it was often quicker to walk anyway.
I used to walk 7 miles each way just to work.

kiteloopy said:
Reading has the Elvis fan.

Reading Elvis is awesome. You should stop and have a quick chat some time.
Instead of the usual little known Big Brother Love Island reject, one year we got Reading Elvis to turn on the Christmas Lights!

Nitefly · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:00

wolfie138 · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:14

there was a somewhat endearing character in Newcastle in the 80s called Big Hec. He was fairly loud and outgoing and built like a brick ****house and would tour pubs collecting for charity. Died quite young, sadly, but raised over a million.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/big-hec-tyneside-charity-champion-11085317

Chris Wilson · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:22

Evangelion said:
In Finsbury Park there's a doddery old guy with a white beard who believes he will be the next Prime Minister. Sometimes you'll see him on the BBC, they've done a few stories about him.

He seems harmless enough though.

He probably has as good a chance of realizing his ambition as anyone at the moment...

Hilly · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:24

Purple Aki, hahaha.

The boogeyman!!

Chris Wilson · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:29

Northenden in Greater Manchester had an ex head master who turned to sleeping rough through choice, not necessity. He was incredibly intelligent and well read, and was greatly missed with a big turn out for his funeral when he sadly died.

I remember "Marigold" well, a true character indeed.

Nasher · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:33

We have a local one who waits for a bus all day.

Or it could just be a terrible bus service.

dirtychinchilla · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:38

I also haven't seen the bearded lady of Guildford in a while.

In Kingston we had Moses of Kingston. He was a pretty nice guy. If you spoke to him, he'd always tell you how handsome or beautiful you were and have a nice little chat. I think he used to wear union jack clothes or something like that, and in later years it was a tutu and he bowled around on a scooter. Poor guy died last year. There was always a rumour that he was super rich as he was orphaned and left a substantial amount of money.

https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/...oses-after-death-of-beloved-community-figure/

Muban · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:53

Inverness has Davie Gnome. Essentially a dwarf who drinks a great deal at all the times of the day.

There was also the guy (Kim Gordon) who looked homeless and for years sold jewellery and assorted other stuff on boards next to the benches in the High Street. Heard rumours that he was actually from a well off family and heir to a fortune (I'm guessing that this could be related to the other surname he used is Avis but he may not be in any way related). Last I'd seen was that he had gone over to the USA, attemptd to fake his own death presumeably as a result of being charged with "rape, attempted rape, assault, lewd and indecent practices, breach of the peace, malicious damage and failing to appear in court for trial".