Local characters.
Discussion
Disclaimer:
I know many local characters may have mental health issues, and it isn't my intention to mock them.
It appears to me that the once prevallant local character is an endangered species. It seemed to me growing up in the 1970s ànd 1980s that most places had an oddball or eccentric local that everyone knew and accepted.
Some examples:
Stamford, Lincolnshire. Walter. Often seen around town in a plastic Union flag party hat . He liked a drink, could get a bit shouty but would often greet you with. "You in a Job?". Or if you were a youngster "Bugger Arrf"
In nearby Wittering, there was the local tramp. An old school gentleman of the road. He was killed on the A1 and I seem to recall my aunt and her friends paid for his funeral. The story got covered in the BBC's Nationwide.
North Shields. There was the bloke on the sofa in the town centre. He would sit there like he was in his living room. All day, every day. Council workers would replace his sofa every few weeks.
There was a guy called David known around the pubs around Newcastle city centre. Highly intelligent to the point where a conversation with him could be alarming with the level of detail he retained about everything. Sadly he ended up taking his own life.
Quite often there is a rumoured back story to these people. Walter in Stamford for example was said to be the errant brother of a Lord in Norfolk. Every January you would see him in a new suit, with a new party hat. Rumour was that some time before every Christmas an employee of his family estate was dispatched to collect him for the festive season. He was then returned in the new year.
David was rumoured to be a super intelligent academic who had imbibed too many chemicals when at university.
Do these types of character stil exist in your town?
I know many local characters may have mental health issues, and it isn't my intention to mock them.
It appears to me that the once prevallant local character is an endangered species. It seemed to me growing up in the 1970s ànd 1980s that most places had an oddball or eccentric local that everyone knew and accepted.
Some examples:
Stamford, Lincolnshire. Walter. Often seen around town in a plastic Union flag party hat . He liked a drink, could get a bit shouty but would often greet you with. "You in a Job?". Or if you were a youngster "Bugger Arrf"
In nearby Wittering, there was the local tramp. An old school gentleman of the road. He was killed on the A1 and I seem to recall my aunt and her friends paid for his funeral. The story got covered in the BBC's Nationwide.
North Shields. There was the bloke on the sofa in the town centre. He would sit there like he was in his living room. All day, every day. Council workers would replace his sofa every few weeks.
There was a guy called David known around the pubs around Newcastle city centre. Highly intelligent to the point where a conversation with him could be alarming with the level of detail he retained about everything. Sadly he ended up taking his own life.
Quite often there is a rumoured back story to these people. Walter in Stamford for example was said to be the errant brother of a Lord in Norfolk. Every January you would see him in a new suit, with a new party hat. Rumour was that some time before every Christmas an employee of his family estate was dispatched to collect him for the festive season. He was then returned in the new year.
David was rumoured to be a super intelligent academic who had imbibed too many chemicals when at university.
Do these types of character stil exist in your town?
Edited by Wildcat45 on Wednesday 16th June 13:21
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff