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From:
Subject: [ BRAD] Keighley Characters 2
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 07:44:56 EST


Hi List

More Keighley Characters for you to enjoy!


Johnny Touch Wood (MORLEY)
Johnny always nervously touched doors and widow sills. He worked as a bottle
washer at Ackroyd's (corner of Russell St & Suresnes Rd) After he finished
work he would deliver newspapers, He lived in Devonshire Street. He had a
nervous breakdown through too much studying whilst at college.

Tommy NAYLOR (nick name Custard Britches)
Was an inmate of Eddie's lodging house. He had a big green box on a hand cart
on which he used to take the bedding to Keighley Corporation wash-house,
twice a week or more.

Frankie NAREY
Was a great friend of Tommy NAYLOR. They were said to fight together. He used
to stand at the top of Low Street, where the Midland Bank used to stand.

'Johnny Twabbles'
Lived in Eddie's lodging house. He stood on Station Bridge and later on
outside the Education Office. Children would run past this frightening
character, with distorted speech. An unverified rumour was that he carried a
cobbler's knife - which would have been razor sharp.

Clifford HOLMES ( Paymum)
Had a speech impediment and could not say 'Papers' only 'Paymum'. He would
ring a handbell, his voice did not carry. He stood outside the Midland Bank,
also sold firewood from his little cart.

'Peggy' SNOWDON
He only had one leg. He stood with crutches at Station Bridge.

Jimmy GINLEY
He was the fastest seller of them all, even though he only had one arm. He
stood by the Midland Bank, sticking the papers in between the railings.

'Johnnie Pot Taw'
Was a 4 foot tall midget. He had no permanent job, but sold matches for
example, outside the old Post Office. Like 'Johnny Twabbles' he also lived in
Eddie's lodging-house, but they often quarrelled about their pitch.

'John Thomas' (BRADLEY)
Used to play his portable gramophone on a pram, busking outside the Regent
Picture House (North St) and the Theatre. His records were usually cracked,
scratched and inaudible and the queues would shout 'Turn it off' He lived
near Quebec Bridge.

'Freddie Gramophone' (BUTTERFIELD)
was a rival to John Thomas, and had his gramophone mounted on a purpose built
cart. There were three queues at the Theatre (stall & circle -together ,
gods, pit) and two at the Picture House (stalls & circle), so there were
plenty of stands for John Thomas, Freddie Gramophone & Tingalary Tommy.
Freddie Gramophone would go to all the big houses on Spring Gardens Lane, and
on Sundays out to Eastburn. He was always reputed to be a member of the
BUTTERFIELD family of Cliffe Castle. He had a speech defect, which worsened
the more excited he became, and he used to shout and bawl so you could not
understand what he was saying. He married 'Alice Flatfeet' (GRAYSTONE) who
wore size 14 shoes and was K legged (knock-kneed) She was the daughter of a
farmer at the top of Black Hill, she worked at Parker's Mill in Golbourne
Street.

Archie SMITH
was the Theatre doorman. 'Good seats in all parts, circle, balcony and
stalls'. he would call. He wore a uniform as he walked outside.

'Old' Mr. GREEN
was the manager of the Theatre. He had a tin leg. He was very quick tempered
with his staff. He was the only man in Keighley who worked whilst wearing
evening dress - except for the orchestra, but they lived in Bradford and
elsewhere.

'Tinglary Tommy'
Played a barrel-organ, which was pulled around the streets by a small pony.
They belonged to Leo SOMMA.

'Emily Matchbox' (also known as 'Sally Matchbox')
Used to sing in the streets for pennies. She was hired from the Workhouse, to
work as a maid in the lodging-house. She also worked in the mill for a short
time, before selling newspapers and singing in the street. Her maiden name
was LUND, but she was reputed to be married to 'Joe Pump'. Whatever their
marital status, they lived in the same house in Park Lane.

'Joe Pump'
accompanied 'Emily Matchbox' with a concertina. He was an odd-job man. He
also sold firewood from a cart. He would also stand (with others) at the
bottom of Cavendish Street, with a shovel, and when a block-cart went to
deliver coal to one of the big houses, he would get a job to go and shovel it
into the coal-hole at the customer's expense (he would get a tanner or a
shilling)

More later..................

Warmest Wishes























Jan in Bronte Country
Co-List Admin Eng-Yorks, Bradford

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