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 Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Updated daily automatically. WARNING ..... To help prevent any virus transmission DO NOT open any attachments to this mail unless the attachment filename is quoted in my first line of the message text