Most of our forum concentrates on places/ buildings but probably we all also remember some of the local characters, and perhaps it would be worthwhile to start a thread in which we recount our memories of them and their activities.
Does anyone remember Elai from Birkenhead market?
I remember him from the OLD market. He had quite a big area in the corner (can’t say which corner because I was less than 10 at the time). He used to “auction” stuff off to quite big crowds. He would start by pulling some items out of a box – crockery, teapots, clothing, rugs – anything, and then give a price. With a constant stream of patter he would bring the price down and down until up would go the cry from someone “ Er y’ar Elai” and then one of his lads would find the person, take the money and pass over the goods.
Elai could keep up this constant patter for hours. I remember going with my mum, guess around the early 1950s, when she had saved up a few bob to be able to go looking for something for the house or for Christmas.
I think Elai or some successor moved to the new market after the old one was destroyed. Did he move to where the flower seller is by the crossing through to TJs?
Especially I remember that my Nan bought a chemistry set for me from Elai. Little tubes of coloured crystals and a set of word/ picture instructions. I played with it for hours until all the chemicals were used up. I was then always asking for another (bigger) set for birthday or Christmas. Eventually I took a degree and masters in Chemistry and was a chemical technologist all my working life.
Snod
Im too young for 'elai' but at first i thought you were talking about a fella who had a stall, outside at back of the market near fruit+ veg- he was the bartering del-boy type, this was in the 70s/80s.
My mum used to love him, made us stand there for hours.
Im too young for 'elai' but at first i thought you were talking about a fella who had a stall, outside at back of the market near fruit+ veg- he was the bartering del-boy type, this was in the 70s/80s.
My mum used to love him, made us stand there for hours.
I remember Eli very well, it was a good comedy show watching him every time we went to the market. His stall was in what we called the inside outside market, like a corrugated part just by the outside stalls, on the right as you walked in from those stalls. He could sell sand to the Arabs, no doubt about that, never bought anything from him my self but plenty did. I think he was there right up to the market burning down in what i think was the 70s, someone will come up with the date.
'cat wheasal'- moreton.
Old lady, kids used to pìck on her. Knock her plants off the window ledge and stuff.
Most of our forum concentrates on places/ buildings but probably we all also remember some of the local characters, and perhaps it would be worthwhile to start a thread in which we recount our memories of them and their activities.
Does anyone remember Elai from Birkenhead market?
I remember him from the OLD market. He had quite a big area in the corner (can’t say which corner because I was less than 10 at the time). He used to “auction” stuff off to quite big crowds. He would start by pulling some items out of a box – crockery, teapots, clothing, rugs – anything, and then give a price. With a constant stream of patter he would bring the price down and down until up would go the cry from someone “ Er y’ar Elai” and then one of his lads would find the person, take the money and pass over the goods.
Elai could keep up this constant patter for hours. I remember going with my mum, guess around the early 1950s, when she had saved up a few bob to be able to go looking for something for the house or for Christmas.
I think Elai or some successor moved to the new market after the old one was destroyed. Did he move to where the flower seller is by the crossing through to TJs?
Especially I remember that my Nan bought a chemistry set for me from Elai. Little tubes of coloured crystals and a set of word/ picture instructions. I played with it for hours until all the chemicals were used up. I was then always asking for another (bigger) set for birthday or Christmas. Eventually I took a degree and masters in Chemistry and was a chemical technologist all my working life.
Snod
just re-read this, same spec in the market! Same fella?
Yes, outside the current market by the fruit & veg ie where they have a flower stall now. Whether it was the same guy I remember from the old market I do not know. I doubt it. Maybe sons/ daughters took on the business because the Elai I remember was no spring chicken back in the '50s. What I remember of the site in the new market was that there would be a modest crowd of maybe a dozen on lookers but that was nothing like the (literally) hundred or so who would be there after pay day in the old market. Yes, a bartering Dell-Boy and Bert is quite right with his comment about selling sand to Arabs.
Snod
Think I may have said somewhere else on the site, but I remember Eli selling a jacket, or it might have been a jumper, brought the price down and held it up and it only had one arm. A woman talked him into a further reduction, or did he reduce it himself? it was a long time ago. Anyway, she took and was dead pleased. Must have had some poor soul at home with one home. It was brilliant, Eli was always good entertainment. He was outside for years and then went just inside on the right, with your back to the pubs, and in the corner as said.
Who remembers the vagrant, used to spend his time, and sleep, on the benches on Park Road North and all round there? Won't say his name as I knew the family. For some reason he preferred to sleep rough. The good thing I remember is that he wasn't given a hard time, at least not whenever I saw him and this was over many years.
There used to be a tramp that walked up and down Grange rd, i remember him being called the Colonel, he used to shoot imaginary planes out of the sky with his walking stick. Anyone else recall him.
There used to be an ex-pugilist that rode on the buses on New Chester Road. If I ever had to ring the bell I used to make sure I was well away from him (I was a conductor). When the bell went he was up and in smack mode. He looked frail but when he hit you on the arm it went sort of dead for a while. It was a lazy type of punch too, obviously used to be good at it. He was harmless really, but you was armless. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who saw this as he was a regular and must have amused many passengers.
Bert, remember the Colonel. We had a similar one over here, the poor fellahs must have been half shell shocked I should think. No counselling for our heroes then.
Anyone remember Mad Mick in Claughton village? He used to walk up the road talking to himself and he was followed by a dog. And every so often he'd turn around and tell the dog to fook off and stop following him - even though it was his dog
I remember a bloke in the Gents, "The Old English Gentleman", in Cleveland Street. Had an op on his throat which meant he couldn't swallow but he'd sit in the corner, get a pint and pour it down a funnel into a pipe which went up his nose and bypassed his mouth altogether, so he was mainlining direct to his stomach. That's what I call a dedicated pub drinker. He wasn't a bad bloke either.
was his name Albert saunders? he lived in Massey street.
Early 70s to middle 80s ...
The woman on the pavement outside Hamilton St station all day every day " got 10 pence for the bus" and what made it worse was she had a lisp!
And i think i remember the tramp on park Rd North used to be called "old lively".
Georgie Peacock He did have bad eye sight but always mannaged to grab the wrong pint on the bar,and say "sorry son was that yours."there was no way you wanted it back so you said "yes that is yours George" which it was then.It did"nt happen again until he only had one pint left.He was also a semi professional comedian and I have seen clubs packed out and he has not turned up only to be seen down the road on a bender,entertaining a pub for free.A true Birkenheader Mr Peacock gone but not forgotten
Eli used to pick out of a box a bra, cup it in his hand shout out what size he thought it was and say..pair of bongo,s 6and6...6s/6p..the tramp who lived in the bush in park road east was a feller call Billy livley he used to kiss a coin bend to the floor and then do a funny swing with his arm.He must have been a proud man as he would not let you help him with money,he used to tell you were to put it.He also got taken into the general hospital once with a bad leg..maggots ate the dead stuff and it kept the wound clean and saved his life.
I remember that when one of the services say gas or electric dug the street up,at night they put barriers around the hole, little red paraffin lamps with red glass and there was a cockey watchman with a little tin hut and a fire fueled with coke {the stuff that was made from coal}in the winter people passing one would warm there hands and pass 5 mins with the cocky..I remember one, his name was weddy nick name I think,he was from around Cleveland street by the corpo
who remembers the guy that went round local pubs played the banjo and the ukulele done George formby stuff he had the biggest bitter nose Ive ever seen?
who remembers the guy that went round local pubs played the banjo and the ukulele done George formby stuff he had the biggest bitter nose Ive ever seen?
your nose dusnt look that bad now kimpri1. Hahaha.
His name is George Peacock The same bloke who had bad eyesight in the pub.I was in the same class as his daughter.He used to live in the houses opposite the morpeth buildings not sure if it was wood street His jokes used to turn the air blue.This one is for all those who think they have his banjo he has sold hundreds of them
The Morpeth buildings were in Wood st. I remember George playing in the Pelican in the early 70s, also there was a bloke, though i can't remember his name, done the round of pubs and drank a yard of ale for charity.
I lived in wood street next to the schooner pub and the garage owned by R and H motors,thats still there called dynamite,I used to drink in the Blue bell,good times and good people,good memories.
who can remember a lad who done card tricks in the pubs park station way. think his name cliff?
one quick thought, George peakock has relatives still alive and local,his brother Dave is one,please be sensative...thanks
Cliff starkey an old mate of mine...still goin now still the same and still has his trade mark hat..
we called the tramp kiss a penny he left large amount ££ when he died
Remember I booked Georgie Peacock for a concert myself once. Dropped myself right in it with the management, snobby b.....ds would never give a bloke a lift up. He turned up, bevvied of course, and he was the best turn of the night. He used to entertain the kids in the street after the war too. We'd all sit on the kerb edge and he would give us a load of songs before carrying on back to the alehouse. I've seen Cliff a lot too, used to frequent the Shammy, absolutely the best magician I've ever seen. If it's in front of you then it must be magic mustn't it?
Does anyone remember the old dear used to play the accordion in Grange Road and the precinct. I say play, there was never any tune that I ever recognised.
Let's just face it..The Wirral has its fair share of odd balls!!
...and most of them find there way to Wiki Wirral!!
Yeah, I've got one lower than the other too.
Yeah, I've got one lower than the other too.
It took me a moment but...yes...I got it!!
Does anyone remember Abba. We called him that because that is all the poor bloke could say. I think he was deaf mute. Even as a kid I felt sorry for him. He was tall and thin and wore a flat 'at a union shirt, little scarf and an old sports jacket. He also used to run some of the laundry packages from the Falcon Laundry for someone. Probably his way of getting a few bob. He was very well know in the Duke Street area.
Who remembers Charlie Pepper? Used to hang around Cleveland Steet, and elswhere probably. Big fat fellah, used to say to kids, "Shake Hands" and crush your hand. It used to be a "dare" for us to touch his hand and then get away quick, if you mis timed it you got crushed. I think he used to pull you in close too so was probably a paedo really. We didn't know about those things then.
We used to have a fella called ginger williams in neston (don't know why he was called ginger because as long as i knew him he was as bald as a coot)he used to run a car scrapyard up raby road but in later years he specialised in selling vans that you could have in any colour as long as it was white because he used to respray all the vans he sold in cheap gloss paint
We also had a local gentleman tramp called maxi grant who used to walk round neston 12 months of the year in a pair of old wellies,he would sleep at night on any bench available in neston even though he had a flat.In his youth he was an acclaimed architect and drew the plans up for a few of the houses on the main route, liverpool road (the ones on the left) as you head into neston
Most of our forum concentrates on places/ buildings but probably we all also remember some of the local characters, and perhaps it would be worthwhile to start a thread in which we recount our memories of them and their activities.
Does anyone remember Elai from Birkenhead market?
I remember him from the OLD market. He had quite a big area in the corner (can’t say which corner because I was less than 10 at the time). He used to “auction” stuff off to quite big crowds. He would start by pulling some items out of a box – crockery, teapots, clothing, rugs – anything, and then give a price. With a constant stream of patter he would bring the price down and down until up would go the cry from someone “ Er y’ar Elai” and then one of his lads would find the person, take the money and pass over the goods.
Elai could keep up this constant patter for hours. I remember going with my mum, guess around the early 1950s, when she had saved up a few bob to be able to go looking for something for the house or for Christmas.
I think Elai or some successor moved to the new market after the old one was destroyed. Did he move to where the flower seller is by the crossing through to TJs?
Especially I remember that my Nan bought a chemistry set for me from Elai. Little tubes of coloured crystals and a set of word/ picture instructions. I played with it for hours until all the chemicals were used up. I was then always asking for another (bigger) set for birthday or Christmas. Eventually I took a degree and masters in Chemistry and was a chemical technologist all my working life.
Snod
i seem to remember Eli in the old market!
did'nt he juggle plates but they never broke? i remember him having a corner in the market,
i remember going there with mum and dad and hearing all the banter from him and juggling those dishes!! i always thought they were going to smash but they never did!!!!
Eli may well have juggled plates but the best ones for doing that were the lads on the outside stalls.
still around i think his name close hand cliff brill at card tricks always wears a hat not seen him in ages .
Seen this guy all over Wirral - always on the old fashined bike - never walking or on the bus or that...!
Quite often in Heswall and Moreton as well.
BTW - he's about 6"2' with hands like hams - so don't hassle him just in case!.
Good luck to him
with a chin like Desperate Dan brave chappie/chappess lives in the Northend
anyone remember Jack I think he was an ex policeman who always wore a long overcoat and flat cap
He used to lock up the swings off Oliver Street and Camden Street at night time
Can't remember but did someone used to go round lighting street gaslights
Nestonlad,
I remember delivering bread to Arthur Williams & his mother at his scrap yard, when I worked for the Coop & having to shove his extremely greasy Alsation out of the way to get into the bungalow. Arthur used to drink in the Wheatsheaf.
There used to be a bloke whom we called 'smiddy' who lived in a street behind Landowne road in the 90's, it was an empty 2 up 2 down but rumour was like quite a few homeless he quite a bit of money and a good family. I heard he had stripped his jaguar car when his wife died and used the car seats inside the house as couches, the only way I could describe him as a spitting image of Greengrass out of heartbeat, and he was a hell of a runner considering his build.
Seen this guy all over Wirral - always on the old fashined bike - never walking or on the bus or that...!
Quite often in Heswall and Moreton as well.
BTW - he's about 6"2' with hands like hams - so don't hassle him just in case!.
Good luck to him
i always get the urge to offer girlie grooming tips!!
The tranny who ALWAYS wears a blue suit is becoming a regular feature on the 409 lately.
The seacombe tranny who favours cut offs+ crop tops-not been seen for a while??
There was one incident in the pet shop in Oxton Rd a good while ago. Don't know if it was a local character who did it but he deserves to be. He was drunk as a skunk at the time and went in the shop and told the staff they were cruel for keeping fish in little jars in the tropical tank. They gave him the bum's rush out and went back about their business. He must have been keeping an eye on them. He sneaked back in when their backs were turned and emptied all the fish into the tank. BUT, they were Siamese Fighting Fish and they ripped each other to shreds. I was in there just afterwards and they staff were right hacked off as they tried to get what was left of them into their little jars again.
He was in the right place if he was drunk as a skunk.
There was one incident in the pet shop in Oxton Rd a good while ago. Don't know if it was a local character who did it but he deserves to be. He was drunk as a skunk at the time and went in the shop and told the staff they were cruel for keeping fish in little jars in the tropical tank. They gave him the bum's rush out and went back about their business. He must have been keeping an eye on them. He sneaked back in when their backs were turned and emptied all the fish into the tank. BUT, they were Siamese Fighting Fish and they ripped each other to shreds. I was in there just afterwards and they staff were right hacked off as they tried to get what was left of them into their little jars again.
thats cruel! Aww poor fish
Tatey thats the fella i remember the old alsation myself,the scrapyard has gone now and gingers son in law is building a new bungalow on the site
Sgt Woodcock, the Birkenhead Park head copper, he had a long truncheon (a proper wooden one Bert) and although he appeared a swine I have the feeling now that he was probably alright. A thick ear sufficed if he caught you at anything and that was it, no court cases or whatever. He knew all the faces so if he saw you even long after he had seen you do something he still got you. Result.....a good park where everyone was safe and nothing too untoward happened, great.
(a proper wooden one Bert)
That saved your Rum ration Bandy.
A few memories rekindled there! I remember Lively the tramp or as we called him 'Kiss the Floor'
In the market I remember Eli well, it was fascinating to watch him.
The guy with the china was a different person I think. He used to put a soup terene in the middleof a 2' by 3' piece of wood and one by one put together a whole dinner service piled high. He'd then pick the wood up and throw the lot in the air, never saw him drop a thing!
There was the chamois fella in the inside market, black guy who only sold shammies!
For those from Bebington, does anyone remember Lily the Limp? she used to be really respectable but something medically happened and used to wait at the 58 bus stop and tell everyone on the passing buses to ferk off!!
Sgt Woodcock, the Birkenhead Park head copper
I wish he was still there... I was walking through the park the other day and there was a gang of kids with golf clubs and one of them had the cheek to yell 'Hurry up will ya!' when I was walking where he was taking his 'shot' ...I laughed moments later though because he was rubbish...
Tatey thats the fella i remember the old alsation myself,the scrapyard has gone now and gingers son in law is building a new bungalow on the site
Another memory is of Stan Smith (later started Sheldrakes) who used be work with Arthur when they pulled the engines out of trucks, boxed them up & exported them to Pakistan.
My Grandad used to always talk about a guy called John Blythe... I think he may have been a barber?..
"There was the chamois fella in the inside market, black guy who only sold shammies!"
yes, I remember him well. My mum and I used to chat to him. Very nice guy. He knew a lot about wash leathers as well as selling them. He could tell you about the different types of skin, what to look for if you wanted one to last and how to treat them.
Must be 15 years or more since I saw him.
Snod
All the butchers in the Market used to be characters. They had to have to patter to entice the punters to buy their stuff. Got a shock last weekend to see that there is only one left on the butchers' aisle. What a shame but if people don't use the market and go to Tesco instead then the whole lot will soon be lost to the town.
"There was the chamois fella in the inside market, black guy who only sold shammies!"
yes, I remember him well. My mum and I used to chat to him. Very nice guy. He knew a lot about wash leathers as well as selling them. He could tell you about the different types of skin, what to look for if you wanted one to last and how to treat them.
Must be 15 years or more since I saw him.
Snod
sounds like the type of customer service thats long disappeared. Shame. Now you just get a rolly eyed, sullen 'wot?'
We used to have a fella called ginger williams in neston (don't know why he was called ginger because as long as i knew him he was as bald as a coot)he used to run a car scrapyard up raby road but in later years he specialised in selling vans that you could have in any colour as long as it was white because he used to respray all the vans he sold in cheap gloss paint
We also had a local gentleman tramp called maxi grant who used to walk round neston 12 months of the year in a pair of old wellies,he would sleep at night on any bench available in neston even though he had a flat.In his youth he was an acclaimed architect and drew the plans up for a few of the houses on the main route, liverpool road (the ones on the left) as you head into neston
I realy must spend more time reading post's !!!.
I had frogoten about Maxi until you mentioned him !. A couple of things i can remember,once on a very hot summers day he rested on the new rubber type dustbins that where for sale outside what is now Right Way, the rubber bins where not the best structures to rest on and they gave way as Maxi was not a small person, he never got up and decided to rest where he fell.
One winters night after a visit to one of the pubs he fell over and decided once again to rest where he fell, it started to snow and he became a snow coverd bump on the pavement.
I do wonder if shares in Greenhall Whitley fell on the stockmarket at news of his demise !.
Dont know if this an urban legend or what- Davey ha-ha -a lad who was force fed hallicinogens and driven round in the boot of a car, been funny ever since? Wallasey area 80s/ 90s?
True or no?
I lived next door to Davy quite a few years ago,he does exist,at least he did,I've not seen him for years now.There is a clip of him on youtube.Something like "Davey HaHa gets thrown into Central park lake"
I know he liked his ale,not sure about the hallucinogens though.
Chris.
Googled davy in- my fella reckons i DO know him? But anyway came across this link. Fingers x'd it works
http://www.circusclub.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-6810.htmlLoads of characters! Hehe. Great read!
Does anyone remember a tall fella known as the Tightrope Walker. He used to be seen in Laird Street carefully walking along the cracks in the pavement. This was late 60's early 70's.
Is "Hoody" still doing the rounds in Higher Beb?
Used to be seen on Broadway and the bench on Mount Road a lot.
Hoody disappeared about 15 years ago, I was told he was taken in by an old woman and looked after!
He was also called 'Tencoats', because of the amount of coats he wore.
When I was about 12, I had 20p, so I gave it to him, and he was pleasant about it, not like other tramps. He went into the co-op down the road, and bought a packet of crackers. And then the shop staff were spraying the place with air freshener.
Yeah they used to do that in the Thresher as well.
I heard a rumour that he used to live in one of the houses on Broadway but lost the plot when his mum died.
Meant to have been brewstered.
How about Jingles, or Billy the Tramp as he was also known.
Or Simple Rob who lived on Red Hill or Rest Hill road?
Its interesting how the 'characters' get their nicknames. And how that nickname 'spreads' even years later, thru the generations. Afterall, it only takes one person to think up a name for you and then refer to you by that name!!
We got a local - 'gobshite m***'.
That was wot father-in-law called him, he's passed now but we still refer to this person as gobshite ....harmless lad really....wouldnt call him that myself but somehow i do refer to him as gobshite coz thats wot the dad did??!!
Jingles got his name because he used to stand out side the newsagents on Cross Lane and jingle his money in his hands.
There's a bloke who was called 'Divvy Dave'. He's a deaf and dumb man who was about 50 in the early 90's, and I saw him in Birkenhead market last week sitting on one of the chairs. He's always standing about in various places, and is completely harmless and friendly.
The bloke who lived in Claughton always used to shout at me from his window when I walked home from school. I'd see him peering out and slowly dread getting closer, and then I'd get the abuse! My old boss told me he only had one match left for his ciggies, so he set fire to his couch so he could smoke through the night. The fire brigade had to rescue him. I don't know whether he's the same person who wears the mack and the hat in Birkenhead precinct.
There is another bloke who had a big, unkempt beard, who used to stand in the same place shouting at people.
Why aren't these people getting help, shouldn't someone take them in and give them medication/therapy? I always feel a bit sad seeing this.
There used to be a bloke go the pubs down by the docks, Bluebell, Shammy, Dock Hotel, Cygnet etc. and they used to call him "The Finger Dancer" because he used to stand up just move his fingers to the music. Harmless as hell but a lot of laughs.
Divvy Dave used to be seen around Bebington a lot when I was a kid.
what about the bloke who runs every where, think he's off the woody? baldy, always wears jeans and a t-shirt and carries a news paper
and
the old bloke who's always between thingwall roundabout and asda?
what about mad jack on ford estate, was always on a old push bike and off it when pissed, people would hide his bike jack went crazy he would say in a evil mad voice know who took my bike your going too die, kill all of you, then start crying
funny little guy, did kill someone thou? that made him go mad.
i remember jack
i lived in erskine street and he locked up the swings at dark every night
i remember the gas lamp being lit in erskine street don,t remember much about the bloke who done it
we called the tramp kiss a penny he left large amount ££ when he died
There was a tramp called Kiss-a-penny in Wallasey too, funnily enough his name came up on another site yesterday. Wonder if it was the same one. He was around in the 60s and 70s, possibly a bit later too.
yeah I remember him, also there was smelly from the nelly, he used to collect glasses in the Nelson!
His name was Alan, he was strange.
yep, he was always quite fragrant aswell! Do you remember those male twins, they must be about 90 now always walking round the village and the prom?
In the 80s there was a young guy who used to hang around the Swan bus stop on Woodchurch Rd. He always wore a donkey jacket with a photo of Sid Vicious on it. Every time I saw him, he was having a raging argument with his imaginary friend.
In the early 90s there was a bloke I used to see on the 71 or 72 in the mornings going into Birkenhead. He often had two coins stuck to his forehead. One day, he got off at Charing Cross and danced down the road behind the bus pointing to his coins.
There was also the bloke who used to ride around on a bicycle laden with rubbish and a big "no smoking" sign. I remember one time in the 90s seeing him riding his bike through the Birkenhead tunnel.
think he is still around,or if he is gone it cannot of been long ago,everytime i used to see him i would walk up and light a fag up right in front of him to ammuse myself,always got a reaction from him.
yep, he was always quite fragrant aswell! Do you remember those male twins, they must be about 90 now always walking round the village and the prom?
Don't think they are quite that old & have been seen fairly recently. Believe they live in Bayswater Rd. area.
think he is still around,or if he is gone it cannot of been long ago,everytime i used to see him i would walk up and light a fag up right in front of him to ammuse myself,always got a reaction from him.
is this the bloke refered to earlier in the post-he went doolally when his wife died of cancer?
I remember an old guy who was often on the 432 bus round about 8 in the morning. He carried all his laundry in a big bag, was forever snorting snuff off the back of his hand and you never wanted to sit behind him cos he would turn round and talk directly to you so you couldn't escape his attention. He said he was off to the swimming baths for a shower. He was harmless but a bit annoying.
The stuff he was snorting was "Snuff" no doubt. It's just powdered tobacco with additives to give it a flavour, revolting.
Wouldn't know what a 432 bus was, it was all simpler when I was last on 'em.
The 432 ran between New Brighton, Liscard and through the Kingsway tunnel into Liverpool. Dunno which swimming baths the guy was referring to but he went a few times each week in the mid to late 90s. Not used the buses since I got my car so I've no idea if he's still around.
There was a cheerfull little bus conductor, on the Bebington routes, in the '50s, whose catchphrase was 'Hold me tight! (followed by the tingting). He didn't seem to worry too much about collecting fares!
Bri
does any one remember the hells angel in new ferry that never had a bike
We've got an Apache Indian, or maybe a Navaho, here but he hasn't got a horse. He's a nice bloke really, works hard, very hygenic and always says hello back if you greet him. He just has this thing about dressing like a brave, winter gear not the loin cloth bit.
does any one remember the hells angel in new ferry that never had a bike
just choked on my brew, laughing! Awww
Im not sure if its been mentioned here or if its a known nutter of Birkenhead but today I saw a right weirdo walk past the site. I could not see if it was a man or woman but he/she was wearing a large carrier bag on each foot, what looked like a net curtain on there head and they where carrying a small Christmas tree in their hand. All the passers by where just staring in astonishment. It was the funniest thing I have seen for ages watching peoples reactions. Even the staff in the carpet shop came out to see what had just walked passed. I will keep an eye out and try to get a photo if they come past again.
We've got an Apache Indian, or maybe a Navaho, here but he hasn't got a horse. He's a nice bloke really, works hard, very hygenic and always says hello back if you greet him. He just has this thing about dressing like a brave, winter gear not the loin cloth bit.
i remember seeing-in cambden town, london this massive (heìght+ width) black fella barefoot in a kinky nurses dress. Nobody batted an eyelid!
It was. It was like something off trigger happy tv but without a camera crew.
I saw him/her this afternoon walking towards recycling centre,tree in hand,bag on head.Can only assume he/she was going to be with it's own kind.
It was probably disturbed(?)and must be nocturnal..or something!!
What a new bizarre character?! Hehe
Going back a page or so about the Corpy buses, found this on the Merseytravel site (
Clicky ):-
2. Does anyone remember the bus conductor on Wirral who used to announce the stops in rhyming couplets? Here are two examples of his:-
College Drive
What a dive!
Bebington Station
Heart of the nationWhich I seem to vaugely 'sort of' remember. Anyone else?
Billy.
i saw him or her yesterday afternoon passed them on bus thought i was seeing thing .it was down the north end walking towards tesco
2. Does anyone remember the bus conductor on Wirral who used to announce the stops in rhyming couplets? Here are two examples of his:-
College Drive
What a dive!
Bebington Station
Heart of the nation
Which I seem to vaugely 'sort of' remember. Anyone else?
Billy.
[/quote]
Sounds like the one I posted about, yesterday. That was on the Bebington routes 50 and 58 which I used for school and work in the late '40s and '50s.
Bri
I can remember Eli, think the one from the new market was called Harry ! Can remember mostly women shouting "E ya Harry" especially my mum near xmas when he got stuff like "star wars figures etc"
Yeh , remember the Hell's Angel without the bike , think he lived in Port Sunlight ...wore a Jerry helmut i think
I remember 'Mad Dave' ,(not Divvy Dave) ,around Bebington in the late sixties , seventies and possibly early eighties.
Dave used to live in Acreville Road and spent a lot of his time by the shops at Beb station collecting bus numbers.
I remember 'Mad Dave' ,(not Divvy Dave) ,around Bebington in the late sixties , seventies and possibly early eighties.
Dave used to live in Acreville Road and spent a lot of his time by the shops at Beb station collecting bus numbers.
I think that's the same fella.
Was the New Ferry Hell's angel called Chopper?
How about Jingles, or Billy the Tramp as he was also known.
Billy ain't a tramp
He lives on Mayer Ave just off Cross Lane - I think with his sister. Quite a friendly bloke (for a deaf mute) always happy to exchange a 'thumbs up'.
You're right that he did used to stand at the shops jingling his coins in his pocket.
billy or jingles always stops at my gate to stroke my cat she likes him
I saw an 'odd one' in birkenhead the other day-
Male, aged 50-60. Wearing lady leggings+ black t-shirt. Then a hi-vis vest, final layer was a flowery full length apron!!! Cowboy hat + boots to finìsh the 'look'. ?!?!
Sounds like Julian Cope lol
is that his name? is he a well known local character?
Anyone seen that bloke who is always standing on the pavement between Sainsbury's in Upton and Landican cemetary? He's got a brown coat and a brown hat on and always facing the wall, smoking a rolly. I've seen him nearly everytime I pass, even when it was bitterly cold through the snow.
I wonder what these people are like 'out of character'?
YES WE HAVE SEEN HIM THERE EVERY DAY DOING SAME THING WEIRD ?
I remember about 1995 there used to be a dirty looking woman who looked like a man.She obviousy had mental issues as she would go into the phonebox opposite Argyle taxis and repeatedly punch herself in the face,then call the police and claim assault.I worked over the road and she would do it about once a week.She wore a leather coat and mirrored sunglasses no matter what the weather was like.
there is a story about that old gentleman apparently some years ago he lost his wife and on the day of the funeral he lost his wedding ring and he goes along that road everyday hoping to find it i have seen him lots of times usually in the morning when i have been taking my daughter to work.
I always guessed "Landican Man" gets the bus between Upton and Landican, because I have never seen him on the stretch by the old Champion Sparks to the Hospital.
He started off on the side of Landican on Woodchurch Rd for quite a long time but suddenly moved on to the front of Landican.
thats were i usually see him between the hospital and champion spark plugs most mornings rain or shine,
there is a story about that old gentleman apparently some years ago he lost his wife and on the day of the funeral he lost his wedding ring and he goes along that road everyday hoping to find it i have seen him lots of times usually in the morning when i have been taking my daughter to work.
there is a story about that old gentleman apparently some years ago he lost his wife and on the day of the funeral he lost his wedding ring and he goes along that road everyday hoping to find it i have seen him lots of times usually in the morning when i have been taking my daughter to work.
awww what a sad story
Just read through all of the posts I haven't had such a good laugh in ages!!!!
Thanks folks!
there is a story about that old gentleman apparently some years ago he lost his wife and on the day of the funeral he lost his wedding ring and he goes along that road everyday hoping to find it i have seen him lots of times usually in the morning when i have been taking my daughter to work.
Living on the Woodchurch i see this guy almost every day walking up and down outside Landican as i'm on my way to pick my wife up from work. He is called "THE GATEKEEPER" by some locals around here. He does appear to be looking for something on the floor as he walks. I hadn't hear'd the "ring" story before.
A friend of my wife's once, feeling sorry for him, stopped and gave him a pack of 20 fags as she thought he was always looking for second hand dog-ends to make his rolly's. His reply, in his own words was....
"F*** Off, i don't smoke!"
davy ha ha . now theres a name from the past. poor bugger dont think id have liked to hae had that done to me !
Anyone remember Purple aki ?
davy haha is a weirdo
he only went mad because his mates thought they killed him
and rolled him up in a carpet and left him for days
Another local character, but not a particulary nice one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YAL4QFXDRI
yerr you can say that again mate
Does anyone remember a tall fella known as the Tightrope Walker. He used to be seen in Laird Street carefully walking along the cracks in the pavement. This was late 60's early 70's.
the guys name was ernie he lived in gamlin st. i was always told as a kid that his house was bombed and he was blew into the fire (not lit),he left birkenhead and moved to blackpool last i heard about him must have been about 1995
We used to have a fella called ginger williams in neston (don't know why he was called ginger because as long as i knew him he was as bald as a coot)he used to run a car scrapyard up raby road but in later years he specialised in selling vans that you could have in any colour as long as it was white because he used to respray all the vans he sold in cheap gloss paint
We also had a local gentleman tramp called maxi grant who used to walk round neston 12 months of the year in a pair of old wellies,he would sleep at night on any bench available in neston even though he had a flat.In his youth he was an acclaimed architect and drew the plans up for a few of the houses on the main route, liverpool road (the ones on the left) as you head into neston
We used to have a fella called ginger williams in neston (don't know why he was called ginger because as long as i knew him he was as bald as a coot)he used to run a car scrapyard up raby road but in later years he specialised in selling vans that you could have in any colour as long as it was white because he used to respray all the vans he sold in cheap gloss paint
We also had a local gentleman tramp called maxi grant who used to walk round neston 12 months of the year in a pair of old wellies,he would sleep at night on any bench available in neston even though he had a flat.In his youth he was an acclaimed architect and drew the plans up for a few of the houses on the main route, liverpool road (the ones on the left) as you head into neston
Remember both of them aswell, Maxi for the bench sitting near the old Ladbrokes and outside the Town Hall. He even lived at the bottom of Cottage Close iirc.
Also Gingers yard in Raby, remember him having a Series 1 Turbo for sale cheap as chips bt i was to young to buy it, his Daughter inherited the yard but unfortunatly passed away from alcohol problems. She started making the his old yard better but after her death her husband is carrying it on.
For people who don't know the place just think "next to the donkeys" who are in the next field lol.
We used to have a fella called ginger williams in neston (don't know why he was called ginger because as long as i knew him he was as bald as a coot)he used to run a car scrapyard up raby road but in later years he specialised in selling vans that you could have in any colour as long as it was white because he used to respray all the vans he sold in cheap gloss paint
We also had a local gentleman tramp called maxi grant who used to walk round neston 12 months of the year in a pair of old wellies,he would sleep at night on any bench available in neston even though he had a flat.In his youth he was an acclaimed architect and drew the plans up for a few of the houses on the main route, liverpool road (the ones on the left) as you head into neston
Remember both of them aswell, Maxi for the bench sitting near the old Ladbrokes and outside the Town Hall. He even lived at the bottom of Cottage Close iirc.
Also Gingers yard in Raby, remember him having a Series 1 Turbo for sale cheap as chips bt i was to young to buy it, his Daughter inherited the yard but unfortunatly passed away from alcohol problems. She started making the his old yard better but after her death her husband is carrying it on.
For people who don't know the place just think "next to the donkeys" who are in the next field lol.
thanks for that Phil I just read it out to him and he had a laugh remembering the old days. I bet you will know my OH if you are from Neston too
I might know him but i'm a young gun lol.
I remember Tubby Royden from the late 70's early 80's. We used to see him around Mayor Park gates on Ellans Lane. I am sure he had a tatoo (inky dink) of a cross on his forehead and LOVE & HATE on his knuckles. He must have been mid 30's then (I was in my teens). Is he still alive? He used to chat and try to impress us with stories and feats of strength. He seemed an o.k guy, just think he was lonely.
He used to be seen around royden park when i was little. Many a times we would see him standing on pathways in front of us. very scary man
I remember 'Mad Dave' ,(not Divvy Dave) ,around Bebington in the late sixties , seventies and possibly early eighties.
Dave used to live in Acreville Road and spent a lot of his time by the shops at Beb station collecting bus numbers.
i was only thinking about him the other day, i used to live in readville rd till i was 10yr he was known as divy dave and we used to talk to him and look at his book that was full of bus numbers, he used to wear a brown mack and flat cap, we never did find out his back ground, i'd love to know it! he was a really lovely harmless bloke
I remember Tubby Royden in New Ferry from the early 80's. Someone said he ended up going to the agricultural college outside Ruthin to study. The other character in the area was "The Doog" (JOHN DOUGLAS) who was famous from the late 70's onwards. He even had a facebook group set up (Has anyone seen the doog? hunt the doog) were people put loads of pictures and videos on. Rumour has it he passed away aged 60 in a nursing home recently.He was a right character. I remember working behind the bar in the Railway in Port Sunlight in 86 with my mate Dougie Adamson when The Doog walked in pretending to be C.I.D. and wanting to search everyone for drugs. He nearly got his lights punched out. His party trick was to run through the pub door, grab someone's unattended pint at the bar, neck it down and run back out.
He tried it one day and the bar staff had already spotted him lurking outside, so we mixed half a pint of mild and washing up liquid and left it on the end of the bar, you can guess what happened to him
I remember 'Mad Dave' ,(not Divvy Dave) ,around Bebington in the late sixties , seventies and possibly early eighties.
Dave used to live in Acreville Road and spent a lot of his time by the shops at Beb station collecting bus numbers.
i was only thinking about him the other day, i used to live in readville rd till i was 10yr he was known as divy dave and we used to talk to him and look at his book that was full of bus numbers, he used to wear a brown mack and flat cap, we never did find out his back ground, i'd love to know it! he was a really lovely harmless bloke
omg, i had forgotten about him, but your post just reminded me of him.
yes he always used to hang around the "triangle" well thats what we called it, it had flowers in it and was op the abbotsford est and it had a bus stop,
Does anyone remember Freddie Moody, an old tramp who used to hang around Liscard and Central Park in the 80s and 90s? Think he had a younger lad who hung around with him too who we used to call the Apprentice. Think he got murdered in Liscard around 2000.
There's also a lady/man [not sure which] who stinks of pee and lives around Rock Ferry station. She sometimes gets on the 41/42 bus to Birkenhead. Has boobs down to its knees, and nice little goatee beard, brown stains on its trousers and speaks with the poshest home counties accent you'll hear.
does anyone remember the old bloke in new ferry in the 60s/70s who used to have one leg about 1ft shorter than the other? He wore a boot on his short leg and the sole was about 1ft thick also. He always dragged his short leg because of the weight of the boot. i always remember he wore a black suit
i got stuck behind her in lidl once couldnt get out of there quick enough still see her round & about in Rock Ferry
Does anyone remember Freddie Moody, an old tramp who used to hang around Liscard and Central Park in the 80s and 90s? Think he had a younger lad who hung around with him too who we used to call the Apprentice. Think he got murdered in Liscard around 2000.
There's also a lady/man [not sure which] who stinks of pee and lives around Rock Ferry station. She sometimes gets on the 41/42 bus to Birkenhead. Has boobs down to its knees, and nice little goatee beard, brown stains on its trousers and speaks with the poshest home counties accent you'll hear.
i remember freddy he used to sleep next to a tree in central park in his sleepin bag, considerin his personal state he was always happy
There's also a lady/man [not sure which] who stinks of pee and lives around Rock Ferry station. She sometimes gets on the 41/42 bus to Birkenhead. Has boobs down to its knees, and nice little goatee beard, brown stains on its trousers and speaks with the poshest home counties accent you'll hear.
i know who you mean. I often see her at the bus stop opposite St Caths. She gets the 154 down town. She looks like an elf.
My eyes water, when the bus goes over a bump. Jeeze! That must hurt with them knee warmers!!! And she can talk the hind leg of a donkey.
There was a similiar character in Seacombe. Late 90s, early 00s.
Another bra-phobic with suspicous brown trouser stains.
One Bank Holiday, she was in the (then) butty shop, as i was. She stunk that bad, that i could not eat my butty and (we were heading to N.B for the day) i could smell her, on my clothes and skin, all day.
Don't see her out now but she still alive-lives in the same Sheltered Housing block, as the ma-in-law. Still stinks, her niff permeates to the Landing as you pass her door.
There's also a lady/man [not sure which] who stinks of pee and lives around Rock Ferry station. She sometimes gets on the 41/42 bus to Birkenhead. Has boobs down to its knees, and nice little goatee beard, brown stains on its trousers and speaks with the poshest home counties accent you'll hear.
i know who you mean. I often see her at the bus stop opposite St Caths. She gets the 154 down town. She looks like an elf.
My eyes water, when the bus goes over a bump. Jeeze! That must hurt with them knee warmers!!! And she can talk the hind leg of a donkey.
If you mean who I think you do then she lives fairly close to the Lidl (obviously not going to say where), and her accent, although perfect, is shrill in the extreme.
She has a love for cats that borders on the obsessive, there's not many people (especially of her age) that will take a cat for a walk on a lead, although I personally think that the brave part is trying to put the lead on the cat in the first place.
She is from a very well-to-do family, and although at times obviously needs help, has enough mental capacity to be able to refuse it.
It's borderline/grey area cases like this that society as a whole need to help
does anyone remember the old bloke in new ferry in the 60s/70s who used to have one leg about 1ft shorter than the other? He wore a boot on his short leg and the sole was about 1ft thick also. He always dragged his short leg because of the weight of the boot. i always remember he wore a black suit
yeah,i remember him,don't know who he was, wonder what happened to him?anyone know?
I've never dissed her. I respond to her when she speaks to me.
I can't get my head around, having breasts that large and not supporting them?
Yes, the aroma is offensive but tolerable, for 2 or 3 bus stops!
However, other than the niff and the breasts-i'd like to know her History.
What about 'Parrot Man'? An up and coming character for 2011-will he feature here in the future?
He has been seen 'out n about' in Birkenhead Market, by several of us....
He has a parrot, on his shoulder, attached to a harness and a lead.
What about 'Parrot Man'? An up and coming character for 2011-will he feature here in the future?
He has been seen 'out n about' in Birkenhead Market, by several of us....
He has a parrot, on his shoulder, attached to a harness and a lead.
ive seen him in wallasey village take a look behind him next time u see him the parrot like leaving his mark haha
who remembers the guy that went round local pubs played the banjo and the ukulele done George formby stuff he had the biggest bitter nose Ive ever seen?
Awww thats a blast from the past,georgie peacock,he could play,god bless him.But it was the biggest bitter/whiskey nose i have ever seen!
Brings back good memories of pub life!
What about 'Parrot Man'? An up and coming character for 2011-will he feature here in the future?
He has been seen 'out n about' in Birkenhead Market, by several of us....
He has a parrot, on his shoulder, attached to a harness and a lead.
Yeah, I've seen Parrot Man. He got on the 410 in New Brighton. There was a load of kids and scallies already on the bus making a bit of noise. But once he got on the bus went silent. People couldn't actually believe there was a parrot perched on his shoulder. The back of his shirt was covered in bird poo. Not nice. He looked in need of a wash in general too though.
I remember Tubby Royden in New Ferry from the early 80's. Someone said he ended up going to the agricultural college outside Ruthin to study. The other character in the area was "The Doog" (JOHN DOUGLAS) who was famous from the late 70's onwards. He even had a facebook group set up (Has anyone seen the doog? hunt the doog) were people put loads of pictures and videos on. Rumour has it he passed away aged 60 in a nursing home recently.He was a right character. I remember working behind the bar in the Railway in Port Sunlight in 86 with my mate Dougie Adamson when The Doog walked in pretending to be C.I.D. and wanting to search everyone for drugs. He nearly got his lights punched out. His party trick was to run through the pub door, grab someone's unattended pint at the bar, neck it down and run back out.
He tried it one day and the bar staff had already spotted him lurking outside, so we mixed half a pint of mild and washing up liquid and left it on the end of the bar, you can guess what happened to him
I'd forgotten about the Doog. Didn't he get banned from the buses as he was always causing troule on the bus down to Bromborough?
Does anyone remeber 'NO SMOKE' the guy who had the push bike with polystyrene and no smoking signs plastered all over it?
No Smoke got around a fair bit , remember seeing him in Southport once.
Anyone remember 'What about the buses'Norman - around the same time as 'Kiss a Penny' late '60's / early '70's in the Seacombe area , used to shout 'What about the buses' at him & he'd go ape
at you .
Another was Mickey (Ricky) Meths always rambling on about the government . Think he was found dead on a bench at Seacombe Ferry.
Does anyone remeber 'NO SMOKE' the guy who had the push bike with polystyrene and no smoking signs plastered all over it?
I heard he was found dead by the Runcorn bridge a few years ago.
Yer,if it's the same guy i'm thinking of,saw him down the prom and also outside Chester Zoo!
Kiss a Penny as far as I remember had dived off the ferry boat to save a boy who was drowning. He hit his head on the side of the boat and suffered brain damage.
No Smoke got around a fair bit , remember seeing him in Southport once.
Anyone remember 'What about the buses'Norman - around the same time as 'Kiss a Penny' late '60's / early '70's in the Seacombe area , used to shout 'What about the buses' at him & he'd go ape
at you .
Another was Mickey (Ricky) Meths always rambling on about the government . Think he was found dead on a bench at Seacombe Ferry.
I spotted no smoke near wrexham once.
Thats sad about kiss a penny.
Yer I think so. People took the P out of him,not knowing the story behind his disability!
not seen "no smoke" for a while now, last time was in wallasey village about 2 yrs ago
all well and good going around telling people not to smoke cos its bad for you, what about riding a bike behind and in traffic all day everyday
memory serves me right 'her' name is Josie and she honks to high heaven, mind you haven't seen h.er in a while.
Great topic! I've encountered many of these "characters" over the years... I must admit I'd completely forgotten about the shammy leather specialist on the market. He did indeed know his stuff.
No Smoking man.
The Doog.
Tencoats. Tramp who was around Bebington/New Ferry in the early 90s. He looked like Captain Haddock from Tintin and had loads of coats on regardless of the weather.
Anyone remember Cherry Blossom from Liverpool city centre. was mostly bald and used black shoe polish on his head where he was bald.
Tencoats was around long before the early 90's.
Is he still about now?
Reading all the posts here I've laughed such a lot.
I know some folk feel that the "odd ones" need help, but I believe most of them are content in their own world and would not be happy to be helped.
The Doog I remember well, I used to hate when I was walking from the car park in Bromborough to get to the shops if I'd see him I'd be terrified. Lots of the local shopkeepers in Brom used to care for him and give him food and clothes though. I did hear a rumour recently that he'd died.
I find this all a bit sad. Loneliness is a terrible thing, isn't it. No-one should be laughed at in that stste. There but for the grace of God.....?
Sorry he's dead, but didnt like him anyway. horrible man.
I used to work in St Johns Market in the late 80's early 90's & a quite young lad used to come to my stall & looked bald with his head smeared in what looked like boot polish, he must have only been in his early 20's then, I wonder if that was cherry blossom? very strange lad!
I used to see kiss a penny regularly when I was a kid, used to go up Oxton Road Wallasey. every few paces he would bend over as if to pick something up off the pavement & kiss it, hence his name, always wondered what happened to him.
''What about the buses Norman'' I remember less well but every kid shouted that at him just for the reaction...ah...happy days!
Has anyone seen the guy who walks around Grange Rd. W. precinct? He is short, with dark hair and always has a cigarette in his hand and a menacing look in his eye. Scary fellah.
What about 'Parrot Man'? An up and coming character for 2011-will he feature here in the future?
He has been seen 'out n about' in Birkenhead Market, by several of us....
He has a parrot, on his shoulder, attached to a harness and a lead.
Ive seen him about just saw him today sitting on a bench down town.
me and TC seen him today too!
No Smoking man.
The Doog.
Tencoats. Tramp who was around Bebington/New Ferry in the early 90s. He looked like Captain Haddock from Tintin and had loads of coats on regardless of the weather.
i was waiting for the "DOOUG" to show , worth a mention in this weird hall of fame , he use to hang around argyle taxis a lot where i worked in the 80's used to drive us all nuts , last time i saw him was a few years ago , dont know if he's still around or not?
Also
"the man woman "
"popeye" from the 60-70 around rock ferry used to ask him to "do popeye" and he had this pipe and pull a really good face of him
Hi Oxtonmac, read a few pages back as there is quite a bit about the Dooug . He passed away last year
I remember Eli well - he was always so entertaining. Didn't he used to say something like "Ere 'Arry - pass us that up." When he needed the next item to sell.
The black man selling the chamois in old Birkenhead Market sold the best 'shammys' I have ever bought. Very polite.
The male twins of Wallasey seem to have been around all my life. They wore the same clothes. They used to catch the same train as I to work every day. Eventually they retired and walked the prom a lot. More recently I saw just one of them and wondered what had happened to the other.
In the 50s there used to be a chap who would sit on the bench at the traffic lights end of Sea Road. He fascinated me (I was a child) because he only had one leg. I used to stop and talk on my way to and from the park and he used to tell me that he had lost his leg in the war and that sometimes it itched very badly but he couldn't scratch it. I felt so sorry for him.
There was a Tranny on Seabank Road nearly all summer but I haven't seen her for a while.
The black man selling the chamois in old Birkenhead Market sold the best 'shammys' I have ever bought. Very polite.
When I lived in Crewe in the 1980's I used to drive to Birkenhead just to buy a chamois leather from this guy, in fact I used to buy a couple of them, he was there for years and he did indeed sell fantastic chamois leathers.
Always wondered what became of him though.
PB
does any one remember the hells angel in new ferry that never had a bike
I remember him! Called himself SANTOS!
Anyone seen that bloke who is always standing on the pavement between Sainsbury's in Upton and Landican cemetary? He's got a brown coat and a brown hat on and always facing the wall, smoking a rolly. I've seen him nearly everytime I pass, even when it was bitterly cold through the snow.
I wonder what these people are like 'out of character'?
This chap is still around. I used to see him on a daily basis sometimes twice a day. Strange thing is that he never really look bedraggled or homeless. He has changes of clothes and coats particularly. Someone told me he has a flat on the Woodchurch Estate but that mey have been here say. My son gave him some cigs more than once from the car. He seemed grateful. One Christmas morning I went out with a tin box stuffed with mince pies, fruit, sweets, pork pie, all sorts. Guess what, not a sign of him anywhere! I don't know why but I have a feeling he may get something from the hospital and posssibly the fire station and police station. People do seem to look out for him. Although sad in our own minds, he may be happpy.
I remember kiss a penny from when I was a kid, he used to walk down Gorsey Lane on his way over to Birkenhead.
Also remember Alan from the Nelson in the late 70's early 80's he used to sidle up to you & try & start a conversation about random subjects.
I used to know Freddie Moody before he was homeless & he used to drink in the Eagle, it was a shame how he ended up.
Does anyone remember 'Blind Harry' who used to live down Gorsedale road he was real creepy & all the kids were scared of him. He used to freak the women out by holding on to them & not letting go when they helped him across the road, people used to say he wasn't really blind.
And lastly who hasn't got a story about the infamous window cleaners from Wallasey, Derek & Giles.
Where the window cleaners 'The Randles'?
Whatever happened to Freddy Moody? Is he still alive? Haven't seen him for about 15 years.
I remember kiss a penny from when I was a kid, he used to walk down Gorsey Lane on his way over to Birkenhead.
Also remember Alan from the Nelson in the late 70's early 80's he used to sidle up to you & try & start a conversation about random subjects.
I used to know Freddie Moody before he was homeless & he used to drink in the Eagle, it was a shame how he ended up.
Does anyone remember 'Blind Harry' who used to live down Gorsedale road he was real creepy & all the kids were scared of him. He used to freak the women out by holding on to them & not letting go when they helped him across the road, people used to say he wasn't really blind.
And lastly who hasn't got a story about the infamous window cleaners from Wallasey, Derek & Giles.
Hi Raven
Give us a story about Derek & Giles. I knew a window cleaner in the late 50's early 60's. A very unsavoury man. Don't know his name though. He lived on Seabank Rd.
From what I remember Freddie died about 10 years ago. Rumour was he owned a house but lived on the street??
A couple from me;
Jackie Killips, signwriter who did the Forizo sign on Argyle St (above the railway cutting) Proper traditional painted signs, but he was always drunk with his bright red face and whisky nose!
Pink Hat Pat, still frequents Hoylake, she will just push her wheeled zimmer into the road and force traffic to stop, then take an age crossing while cursing at the drivers! :-)
Hi Oxtonmac, read a few pages back as there is quite a bit about the Dooug . He passed away last year
awww poor fella he was harmless when i knew him
Probably the most endearing name given is 'kiss a penny' . That's lovely, it could be used for a character in a film or book.
That guy has been walking between woodchurch and landican, upton sainsburys, up and down commonfield road since I noticed him when I was a kid back in 1989- I find it amazing that guy does the same thing each day... walks up and down, rolling cigarettes and if you approach him he quickly crosses the road- has always worn the same clothes with the occasional hat or jacket change. This guy is nostalgic to me and remains a mystery- I would love to sit him down and chat over a cup of tea but he is just so unapproachable- not anti social, just a shy individual- completely harmless- anyone know his name or where he lives?
Anyone remember 'sh*t Harry?'
I often used to see him round Rock Ferry when I lived in Bedford rd in the late 80s, old guy with a trilby sometimes, who would stand outside a shop, holding a carrier bag. When someone went to go in, he would pull out a dog poo, and do this until the shopkeeper came out and gave him some money to f*** off.
Must be easier ways to make a living!
Probably copped a whopping case of toxoplasmosis.
God bless him and all the others who make this peninsula of ours, 'the island of strangers'...
I emigrated to Canada as a teen. On a visit in the 70's witnessed the Eli cardigan-with-one-sleeve-patter. Priceless. He also sold odd shoes to people with one leg....
Does anyone remember 'Blind Harry' who used to live down Gorsedale road he was real creepy & all the kids were scared of him. He used to freak the women out by holding on to them & not letting go when they helped him across the road, people used to say he wasn't really blind.
I remeber him, I walked him across Gorsey Lane once, I thought he wasn`t blind.
Anyone remember "Soft George", a tramp from seacombe going back about 50 years ago?. He used to go into the laundrette in St. Pauls Road and use the driers when he was soaking wet. He`d climb in if they still had a few pence worth of electricity in them and go for a spin. I seem to remember him getting murdered.
has anyone noticed a black lady who walks around grange road and the pyramids picking up ciggy stumps and putting them in her pockets.
Thats my mum, I told her to use a damn carrier bag.
I remember Soft George from when I was younger living in Seacombe. Rumour had it that he dived in the Mersey to save someone from drowning and banged his head on the ships propellor and it gave him brain damage. I think another name for him was Totty Brown. I believe he was found dead in the toilets in Seacombe ferry. RIP.
Yes that was always said about Totty, he was a great character . Do you remember Mick the meth from the same era ?
"mad davey har har" anyone?
Dont know if this an urban legend or what- Davey ha-ha -a lad who was force fed hallicinogens and driven round in the boot of a car, been funny ever since? Wallasey area 80s/ 90s?
True or no?
as you see, davey already mentioned in previous posts
has anyone noticed a black lady who walks around grange road and the pyramids picking up ciggy stumps and putting them in her pockets.
Haha yes i have, her and the one with the cat in a cat carrier.They talk about them two on Twitter.HAHA madness.
What about 'Parrot Man'? An up and coming character for 2011-will he feature here in the future?
He has been seen 'out n about' in Birkenhead Market, by several of us....
He has a parrot, on his shoulder, attached to a harness and a lead.
Ive seen him about just saw him today sitting on a bench down town.
Parrot Man has a bike now. The birds sit on the handlebars.
has anyone noticed a black lady who walks around grange road and the pyramids picking up ciggy stumps and putting them in her pockets.
Haha yes i have, her and the one with the cat in a cat carrier.They talk about them two on Twitter.HAHA madness.
More than 2 being talked about on twitter lol.Mostly the Birkenhead tranny.
hello. does anyone remember the "pin walker" of laird street in the 70's? used to take him days from one end to the other.
Haha Poppy....I remember him well, he would never step on the cracks in the pavement either, tall dark haired man in a black leather jacket, poor man must have taken him hours to go the shop and back !!
I used to be amazed with him walking so slow I was about 7/8yrs old, dare I ask then do you remember the "dog shit thrower" sorry to be rude, but he was around the same time, he terrorized laird street.
No can't say that I do....sounds like a lovely person though !!
I remember Mick the Meths as well from Seacombe. He used to drink Belle Aire hair spray. I have also seen him eating a raw fish before Sushi was fashionable. I believe he was also a troubled person God Rest his soul.
Does anyone know the guy who hangs around on Poulton Rd, long hair, tattoos on his face and a cowboy hat. Sometimes he sits on the bench near Tescos
Does anyone know the guy who hangs around on Poulton Rd, long hair, tattoos on his face and a cowboy hat. Sometimes he sits on the bench near Tescos
Johnny gold, I think he is known as.
Fascinated to know his story. I used to live down there, he was always really pleasant and friendly, despite the fact that he had glued plastic farm animals to his jacket
I have a video of Parrot man on one of my old phones. He was in Liscard Village having a full blown conversation with an apparent ex-boxer who lives down Leasowe way called Joey.
"Mad Pat" in Hoylake was a local legend during the 00s, she would seemingly spend the entire day walking up and down Market St before spending the early part of the evening in Weatherspoons. Before she got barred from there for apparently hitting someone with her walking stick. Halloween was always funny because it was her birthday and she would spend it wearing a witches hat. She hated spiders and would quite literally throw a two pound coin at you if you gave her one in her change and demand it got changed for pound coins.
Sadly she passed away about 4 years ago.
Another couple of infamous characters from Hoylake include Noel, who drives a pretty fancy car, but spends most of his time asking to borrow ciggies and money off people. As well as Tim, who once apparently walked into his local newsagents randomly yielding an axe, and I witnessed him trying to set a skip alight with a blowtorch, only to end up pointing it towards himself and narrowly avoiding his own face when using it
More recent than that though, has anyone had the pleasure of bumping into the "pest" who patrols Birkenhead, usually around the Hamilton Square area? I remember a couple of years back I would see him once a week and he had no idea that I'd told him to get lost the last time I saw him. He seems pretty harmless but he always had a different "hard luck" story for asking people for money. The first time I saw him he came over and tried the "not going to lie, I've just got out of prison and I haven't got anywhere to go or any money, could you spare a couple of quid for some smokes/food". My favourite story that he tried to blag though was one where he had apparently missed the last train from Hamilton Square to Chester and he needed to get to Wrexham to his home but he had left his wallet on the train and so he didn't have any money on him for a taxi and was worried he would be stranded for the evening.
I remember seeing his picture in the Globe saying he had got an ASBO for basically being a pest. I was wondering if he is still around.
Sorry for posting this late, George lived in Palermo St Seacombe, with his sister, In the 60s and 70s, sometimes he was totally sane, other times he would be completely out of it. He died in the toilets at Seacombe Ferry.
One of his traits was to slap his head repeatedly, if you said to him "who smashed Nico's window" Nico had the chip shop in St Pauls road. Rumour had it, that George had broke the chippy window. George used to have a nap on the low walls outside the houses on New St, in the summer, he would curse and swear at you, if you woke him up, but he would never touch you. He looked a bit build wise like Norman Wisdom. I've forgotten his surname, but he was around for years and was at times sad, and at other times hilarious.
George had the accident hitting his head on the boat, not kiss a penny. Brazil
I used to work in old Bidston road Abba would come in to the garage for a cup of tea . Some people said he woke one night in a bombing raid and found his sister dead and never said another word.
Does anybody the guy who had the piece of land on the gypsy ( lane in the northend,I think his name was Hubert he was dripping in gold he to drink in the comet
Yep remember Binks lively and Ricky Arnott he used to eat glasses and plates, I remember coming out of B&Q and the tranny was standing by the doors on the way out, when we got outside I said to Mrs Casper did you see the TV she said I didn't see any telly, Doh!