The homeless man used to sleep in the arches across from TK Maxx before they put the metal fences in so he could no longer do so, used to have a mattress in there, used to give him a few quid sometimes, anyone know if he’s still knocking about ?

lightyears since ive seen him

I recall Burnley bus station, before it was redeveloped, there was an old chap nicknamed "Wandering Walter" who used to always be knocking about, no matter what time of day it was.

There was also, from memory, an old tramp with a long beard, who used to regularly be asleep on one of the benches.

This would have been around the time we won the fourth division, so early nineties.

Funny, the things you remember

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:09 pm

I recall Burnley bus station, before it was redeveloped, there was an old chap nicknamed "Wandering Walter" who used to always be knocking about, no matter what time of day it was.

There was also, from memory, an old tramp with a long beard, who used to regularly be asleep on one of the benches.

This would have been around the time we won the fourth division, so early nineties.

Funny, the things you remember

Mad Mary aswell ?

ClaretsPadiham wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:14 pm

Mad Mary aswell ?

Was she a lesbian?

ClaretsPadiham wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:14 pm

Mad Mary aswell ?

I don't think I remember her

Vincent'sCap wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:20 pm

Was she a lesbian?

What a strange question from some one with a name of Vincents cap

Walter ended up in an old folks' home on Todmorden Road - he will be long gone by now. The one I remember was Dickie Pump.

pureclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:24 pm

What a strange question from some one with a name of Vincents cap

There’s background to it from another thread

ClaretsPadiham wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 12:47 pm

The homeless man used to sleep in the arches across from TK Maxx before they put the metal fences in so he could no longer do so, used to have a mattress in there, used to give him a few quid sometimes, anyone know if he’s still knocking about ?

Unfortunately if you’re sleeping rough, you don’t last long. I do remember the matress though, used to walk past on my way to school, will be 20+ years since though

There was a chap with a spoon at 1 point. Up and down town with it in his hand

And another strange looking chap always around town checking for change in the phone boxes

4midable wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:36 pm

There was a chap with a spoon at 1 point. Up and down town with it in his hand

And another strange looking chap always around town checking for change in the phone boxes

What about the nutcase who used to walk around with the WWF belt ?

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:35 pm

Unfortunately if you’re sleeping rough, you don’t last long. I do remember the matress though, used to walk past on my way to school, will be 20+ years since though

Guessing you went Teds, that’s where I remember him from. You’d be a few years above me though.

The old bird who used to do the pole in bootleggers on a sat night is still seen daily in the boot supping vodkas at 8.30am
Seen her a few times when nipping in midweek for a brekkie.

Don’t remember buzz but thought the ‘Walter’ at the bus station was ‘Walter snakeface’ and wasn’t ‘wandering Walter’ a local club act a comedian I think? maybe wrong

Johnny Be Good, anyone?

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:09 pm

I recall Burnley bus station, before it was redeveloped, there was an old chap nicknamed "Wandering Walter" who used to always be knocking about, no matter what time of day it was.

There was also, from memory, an old tramp with a long beard, who used to regularly be asleep on one of the benches.

This would have been around the time we won the fourth division, so early nineties.

Funny, the things you remember

Bearded chap was known to many as John Clampett, he died in Brierfield after walking in front of a train.

It was Walter Snake face also known as wandering Walter and Walter the docker picker. Most kids had different names for him. Lived near Clifton street in a guest house if I recall correctly. He used to pick up empty glasses in the Swan.

JimmyRobbo wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 3:46 pm

Johnny Be Good, anyone?

I remember Johnny. Sadly, he took his own life.

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 4:58 pm

I remember Johnny. Sadly, he took his own life.

Ah! That does ring a bell. From a long time ago, too, I think.
Very sad. He always seemed to be a jovial character (as far as one can be in those situations).

JimmyRobbo wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 5:15 pm

Ah! That does ring a bell. From a long time ago, too, I think.
Very sad. He always seemed to be a jovial character (as far as one can be in those situations).

About 1985 or 1986 I'd reckon. He was a harmless eccentric who was often seen with a blanket draped round his shoulders in the area of town opposite where McDonald's is now.

MeeActon1 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 4:14 pm

Bearded chap was known to many as John Clampett, he died in Brierfield after walking in front of a train.

I didn't know that. How sad

More recently, there was a Chap called Paul Manley who was always in the papers for being given ASBO's for begging in the town centre amongst other places.

A chronic alcoholic, none of the pubs would let him in, but I haven't seen him for quite a while

Yeah, it would have been around that time. AFAIK Johnny wasn't homeless.

Saw Manley outside TK Maxx about a year ago walking along singing away to everyone. The authorities can't do anything with people like him. The local paper would use a stock image of him arriving to court each time.

'Johnny b good' used to stand in front of the Russian cannon near the prestige building waving his poncho/blanket around his head.

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 5:43 pm

I didn't know that. How sad

More recently, there was a Chap called Paul Manley who was always in the papers for being given ASBO's for begging in the town centre amongst other places.

A chronic alcoholic, none of the pubs would let him in, but I haven't seen him for quite a while

Manno often loiters around the Swan area.

Vincent'sCap wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:20 pm

Was she a lesbian?

I’m sure a claret from Padiham Could clear that up…

Walter Walter was a Lancashire comedian who used to play working mens clubs
I saw him a few times at Byrden House club
Very much in the Les Dawson mould

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:34 pm

Walter Walter was a Lancashire comedian who used to play working mens clubs
I saw him a few times at Byrden House club
Very much in the Les Dawson mould

Think you mean Wandering Walter (Comedian) he came to the Boars Head back in the late 80's early 90's when Bob Greenwood had the Pub (Bob knew him from Preston quite funny but definitely wouldn't work today )

Sorry typo
Yes Wandering Walter
Agree, wouldn't go down well with some modern audiences.

I remember wandering Walter in his red national and provincial hat, and we used to call the guy with the beard mad Tommy. Both were usually around the bus station after clouds disco back in the day

It was Buzzer - not Buzz.
Nicknamed because he was actually a really good sprinter at junior school (and a good footballer too)
Unfortunately the drugs got hold of him and the rest is history. Very sad.
Buzzer was actually in the same school year as Paul Manley - and went to the same junior and secondary school. Again very sad how things have turned out for him.

A number of local ‘characters’ named here.

Mad Mary - wandered around the culvert area shouting at passing cars. She died maybe 10 years ago, it was on the front of the Burnley Express.

Walter Snakeface - this was the guy checking phone boxes for money. Odd looking chap, not seen him in years.

Spooner - The guy with the spoon. Not an old guy either.

Speedy - used to be walking up and down Manchester Rd. Slight lean to his walking style. Looked like his mum had pushed him out the door in the morning and h was still carrying that momentum 12 hours later.

Jimmy Archer - one for the Padiham contingent. Seen walking up and downstairs en Padiham Rd day day and day out. People would yell “Jimmy” snd he’d shout “Oyyy” and raise his right arm. Another one who’s passing made the front of the Express!.

All of them had some tragic back story, probably made up by the kids if the day but all infamous in their own right.

On Wandering Walter, the comedian, about 25 years ago I was invited to an 80th birthday party at an old folks home. Walter was a resident and did an impromptu set mid do. He was brilliant.

JMU81 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 10:27 pm

I remember wandering Walter in his red national and provincial hat, and we used to call the guy with the beard mad Tommy. Both were usually around the bus station after clouds disco back in the day

Tommy Owens i know the family.

Think this was Walter

Brunlea wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 3:24 pm

Don’t remember buzz but thought the ‘Walter’ at the bus station was ‘Walter snakeface’ and wasn’t ‘wandering Walter’ a local club act a comedian I think? maybe wrong

MODs, Delete for repetition.

Dicky Pump - had forgotten all about him.

I was brought up to believe that his real name was
Richard Plimsoll. How true ? No idea.

An epitaph, of sorts, about John
https://www.bcthic.org/View_Archive?OTU3M3wwfHx8

I recall that he once came into the bank where I worked and started quizzing the assistant manager about whether he washed his bed sheets when they became dirty.
He then went on to challenge the assistant manager that if he did indeed wash his bed sheets then why didn't he wash the money?

Then he left and the supervisor sprayed everywhere with air freshener as the customers were complaining

turbo5 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 4:29 pm

It was Walter Snake face also known as wandering Walter and Walter the docker picker. Most kids had different names for him. Lived near Clifton street in a guest house if I recall correctly. He used to pick up empty glasses in the Swan.

Yer remember Walter the docker picker for sure , someone said he had a zip on his forehead where he put the dockers and i recall looking for it when i saw him . Yer right