Local characters.
Discussion
budgie smuggler said:
Dan_1981 said:
Purple Aki.
The legend of purple aki travelled far and wide. Growing up in the early 80s in middle Essex 'purple aki' was used as a general baddie who would catch kids in our games. Wasn't until some 20 years later I read that he actually was a real person and a somewhat predatory offender (and actually from the north somewhere - how did this information get to essex?!)
Edited by budgie smuggler on Wednesday 16th June 10:01
We had Van Helsing/Wolf Man, actually a mate of mine from the pub but long before I met him I saw him everywhere with his dog Cody, which was apparently "a Tamaskan" which was part Malamute, Wolf and something else, nice enough dog but always wanted to shag my little terrier who took great exception to something whose head was bigger than he was licking his nethers, not great in a fairly small room where the dog owners were allowed in the pub.
He was known as Van Helsing as was very slim, wore a floor length leather coat, leather waistcoat a stetson and cowboy boots, he kind of owned that look which was as the kids all called him, Van Helsing, which replaced Wolfman when the film came out.
Anyway, Richard was somewhat taciturn, but very erudite, pretty well read and had vast experience of life, a lot which we thought was embellished but soon learn via photos it wasnt, he sang on cruise ships, was a professional diver for a time, lived next door to and was friendly with Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwearing) drove those massive quarry wagons, competed as a Bodybuilder and god knows what else.
Just used to be out all of the time with the Wolf dog so presented quite a unique look, hence Van Helsing/Wolfman. Used to have some quite raucous, occasionally heated debates with him, very opinionated and was pretty sexist, he made some sexist comment once and got a strip torn off him by the only person more forthright than him that I knew, my wife
He did ruffle feathers, some folk nearly came to blows, the naked hatred from one lady I knwo towards him was palpable and she made no bones about it.
Anyway, hadnt been in the pub for a while as had been away with work and went in, asked the other regulars as to Richards wherabouts, was pointed at the noticeboard and a card with a picture of him and Cody on the front detailing the date and time of his memorial service and function, f
k, was a shocker that as was looking forward to continuing some long running argument or other. He was a bit of an objectionable bugger but he had a heart of gold, he recommended a PC game called Alien Isolation and said I should get it, said I was a bit skint at that time and offered to buy it for me, I didn't take him up on it but it was a genuine offer.
Some folk are perfectly pleasant but if they died you would be sad but not really miss them, but though he wasn't easy company, but it was never dull and I learnt all sorts off him over the three years or so I knew him.
Its sad as he had a heart attack in the town centre one evening, paramedics came and did the protocol including drugs to end the attack which gave the impression all was well, he refused to go in the ambulance, signed himself off and went home where he died overnight. It was I believe a calculated move on his part, I was told he also had quite advancer cancer as well and he just decided to check out before things took a turn for the worse, cant blame him based on the details of what he was going through another mate gave.
RIP Wolfman.
He was known as Van Helsing as was very slim, wore a floor length leather coat, leather waistcoat a stetson and cowboy boots, he kind of owned that look which was as the kids all called him, Van Helsing, which replaced Wolfman when the film came out.
Anyway, Richard was somewhat taciturn, but very erudite, pretty well read and had vast experience of life, a lot which we thought was embellished but soon learn via photos it wasnt, he sang on cruise ships, was a professional diver for a time, lived next door to and was friendly with Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwearing) drove those massive quarry wagons, competed as a Bodybuilder and god knows what else.
Just used to be out all of the time with the Wolf dog so presented quite a unique look, hence Van Helsing/Wolfman. Used to have some quite raucous, occasionally heated debates with him, very opinionated and was pretty sexist, he made some sexist comment once and got a strip torn off him by the only person more forthright than him that I knew, my wife
He did ruffle feathers, some folk nearly came to blows, the naked hatred from one lady I knwo towards him was palpable and she made no bones about it.Anyway, hadnt been in the pub for a while as had been away with work and went in, asked the other regulars as to Richards wherabouts, was pointed at the noticeboard and a card with a picture of him and Cody on the front detailing the date and time of his memorial service and function, f
k, was a shocker that as was looking forward to continuing some long running argument or other. He was a bit of an objectionable bugger but he had a heart of gold, he recommended a PC game called Alien Isolation and said I should get it, said I was a bit skint at that time and offered to buy it for me, I didn't take him up on it but it was a genuine offer. Some folk are perfectly pleasant but if they died you would be sad but not really miss them, but though he wasn't easy company, but it was never dull and I learnt all sorts off him over the three years or so I knew him.
Its sad as he had a heart attack in the town centre one evening, paramedics came and did the protocol including drugs to end the attack which gave the impression all was well, he refused to go in the ambulance, signed himself off and went home where he died overnight. It was I believe a calculated move on his part, I was told he also had quite advancer cancer as well and he just decided to check out before things took a turn for the worse, cant blame him based on the details of what he was going through another mate gave.
RIP Wolfman.
Edited by J4CKO on Wednesday 16th June 12:57
J4CKO said:
He was known as Van Helsing as was very slim, wore a floor length leather coat, leather waistcoat a stetson and cowboy boots, he kind of owned that look which was as the kids all called him, Van Helsing, which replaced Wolfman when the film came out.
You called him Van Helsing. Everyone else knew him as Chemical Chaos.Joey Deacon said:
The bearded lady of Guildford, no idea if she is still alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pxYtWCZ1o8
Died a few years ago.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pxYtWCZ1o8
One of the local druggies was called Sidewinder as he cooked his brain and could only walk sideways, think he hung himself
His brother sits around the town near the cash points hoping to rip people off which is funny considering he is about 5'4" and about 6 stone ringing wet. I did hear he tried to rip off some guy coming out of a chemist in the hope of scoring something and got the living daylights kicked out of him. Haven't seen him since.
Another one that either has OCD or some form of mental issue walks so many steps forward, turns round and walks the same amount backwards, then repeat until out of sight.
His brother sits around the town near the cash points hoping to rip people off which is funny considering he is about 5'4" and about 6 stone ringing wet. I did hear he tried to rip off some guy coming out of a chemist in the hope of scoring something and got the living daylights kicked out of him. Haven't seen him since.
Another one that either has OCD or some form of mental issue walks so many steps forward, turns round and walks the same amount backwards, then repeat until out of sight.
I moved to Wolverhampton in 2000, and it did seem to be rather a hotbed of the more eccentric. Probably best known was The Cowboy who went round, as the name suggests, dressed in full cowboy garb, toy guns included. Went round chatting to folk all day mainly. He gave that up a few years back and joined up with the local nutty God squad, so now hangs around town with them shouting about eternal damnation and Jesus saving you. Also well known was the Ring-Road tramp. Old guy with big beard who lived in a tent on a central reservation of the ring-road. Mostly spent his time sweeping up leaves. People would bring him food and gas canisters and bits, and seemingly the Council offered accommodation, but he refused. After he died more info came out about him being in the Polish army in WWII. Other notables included mug on a string guy, and the young girl who wandered around in a full Stormtrooper outfit. Am sure there’s more! Apart from the Cowboy all disappeared now.
The naked rambler. Would have been local to most people pl at some point.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Gough?wprov=...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Gough?wprov=...
does anyone from manc remember this guy, worlds worst busker and complete loon?
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/great...
around that same time there also used to be a guy who would take the bus from didsbury to the city centre with his pet rabbit. one of those huge ones, which would then follow him around time at heel
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/great...
around that same time there also used to be a guy who would take the bus from didsbury to the city centre with his pet rabbit. one of those huge ones, which would then follow him around time at heel
98elise said:
budgie smuggler said:
Dan_1981 said:
Purple Aki.
The legend of purple aki travelled far and wide. Growing up in the early 80s in middle Essex 'purple aki' was used as a general baddie who would catch kids in our games. Wasn't until some 20 years later I read that he actually was a real person and a somewhat predatory offender (and actually from the north somewhere - how did this information get to essex?!)
Edited by budgie smuggler on Wednesday 16th June 10:01
There used to be an anti smoking campaigner who rode his bike all over the north west seemingly picking up cigarette waste and shouting incomprehensibly at smokers in the street.
One from Bridgend https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/man-...
Tom _M said:
I moved to Wolverhampton in 2000, and it did seem to be rather a hotbed of the more eccentric. Probably best known was The Cowboy who went round, as the name suggests, dressed in full cowboy garb, toy guns included. Went round chatting to folk all day mainly. He gave that up a few years back and joined up with the local nutty God squad, so now hangs around town with them shouting about eternal damnation and Jesus saving you. Also well known was the Ring-Road tramp. Old guy with big beard who lived in a tent on a central reservation of the ring-road. Mostly spent his time sweeping up leaves. People would bring him food and gas canisters and bits, and seemingly the Council offered accommodation, but he refused. After he died more info came out about him being in the Polish army in WWII. Other notables included mug on a string guy, and the young girl who wandered around in a full Stormtrooper outfit. Am sure there’s more! Apart from the Cowboy all disappeared now.
Was going to post about cowboy man turned god botherer ( https://www.logosapostolic.org/testimony/CowboyDav...,ring road tramp and the one I remember you haven't listed is ezra the preacher, passed away a few years ago, used to stand outside mcdonalds shouting at you to repent. He was so annoying, but a character of the town.
We had Frankie Cunningham in town (Kendal), he was a pisshead and once robbed a securicor van by watching the guards bang on the door for the cash and copied them whilst they were still in the bank, he gave it back and wasn't charged 
he was quite popular, folk bought him a 'Frankie goes to Kirkbarrow' (the estate he lived on) T shirt and he wore it proudly, back in the 80's when 'Relax' hit the charts.
He's long dead now.
he was quite popular, folk bought him a 'Frankie goes to Kirkbarrow' (the estate he lived on) T shirt and he wore it proudly, back in the 80's when 'Relax' hit the charts.He's long dead now.
Last Visit said:
Harrogate...Rudy was his name.
Sadly no longer here but as well known as anyone in the town of you lived/grew up there in the 90s.
https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/incredi...
Exactly who I thought of when I read the thread title. I remember him hanging outside Woolworths and singing into a kids karaoke machine, possibly not the best voice but he made up for that with enthusiasm! Sadly no longer here but as well known as anyone in the town of you lived/grew up there in the 90s.
https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/incredi...
We had a local transvestite, from behind, even fairly close, if you didn't know you would think what a looker, women were jealous of his figure, so I was told. Prone to throwing tantrums if he/she didn't get their way but generally quite harmless.
One story that sticks in my mind about this guy was from a friend who worked in one of those one hour photo processing places. One day he noticed a crowd gathering outside the shop. The processing machine was positioned such that anyone who cared to look could see processed photos exiting the machine. He was sent have a look at what the machine was spewing out, it was the tranny engaging in "unnatural acts" with a "friend". The manager instructed my friend to hold a bit of card over the photos to hide them.
The photos were collected, he/she was asked not to come back.
One story that sticks in my mind about this guy was from a friend who worked in one of those one hour photo processing places. One day he noticed a crowd gathering outside the shop. The processing machine was positioned such that anyone who cared to look could see processed photos exiting the machine. He was sent have a look at what the machine was spewing out, it was the tranny engaging in "unnatural acts" with a "friend". The manager instructed my friend to hold a bit of card over the photos to hide them.
The photos were collected, he/she was asked not to come back.
Riley Blue said:
There was a chap in Bridgwater, in his early 20s, who thought he was a car and 'drove' everywhere, arms outstretched as if holding a steering wheel, going, "Brrrrm, brrrrrm, beep, beep!"
He'd drive into a car park, reverse into a space, switch off his engine, then start up and 'drive' off again; happy as Larry (who was Larry?)
Motorway Mike, used to come into the bike shop I worked in a lot. He'd drive into a car park, reverse into a space, switch off his engine, then start up and 'drive' off again; happy as Larry (who was Larry?)
There was also Disco Jeff who danced everywhere.
In Nottingham, we had Xylophone Man, a busker who used to play the xylophone, very badly.
Sadly died in 2004 but is well remembered
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/features/2004/07/x...
Sadly died in 2004 but is well remembered
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/features/2004/07/x...
vaud said:
"Bradford Jesus"
Well known to many in Bradford and the surrounds in the 80s/90s/00s
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/187851...
See "Jesus" and raise "Anna"Well known to many in Bradford and the surrounds in the 80s/90s/00s
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/187851...
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/187369...
There was a lad at our college who was called James Gibson in the 90s and he was a real paranoid and nervous chap. This was in Liverpool we called him Jimmy Gibbo and that became a a phrase about being paranoid, eg, I’m not being all Jimmy Gibbo, but blah blah blah.
Anyway, it’s a phrase I still use nowadays, but I was working in Peebles about 3 year ago, and this guy there used the self same phrase in the same context. So I pick him up on it and ask if he went to college in Liverpool, no, says he and goes on to explain it was a phrase he picked up from a lad who he knew ages ago who used it about someone he knew from school!
I know Jimmy may be a Scottish name, but I’m sure it must be the same guy there talking about!
Jimmy Gibbo, where are you………
Anyway, it’s a phrase I still use nowadays, but I was working in Peebles about 3 year ago, and this guy there used the self same phrase in the same context. So I pick him up on it and ask if he went to college in Liverpool, no, says he and goes on to explain it was a phrase he picked up from a lad who he knew ages ago who used it about someone he knew from school!
I know Jimmy may be a Scottish name, but I’m sure it must be the same guy there talking about!
Jimmy Gibbo, where are you………
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