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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Local celebrities

529 replies

Scrump21 · 13/01/2020 22:51

Do you have any where you live, or any local urban legends?

The closest town to myself there was a man who drove round on a mobility scooter with 4 or 5 real life owls sat with him... He would stop and let people have pics with him and all sorts.

It wasn't done as a one off or charity, he just liked to takes his owls out I guess.

OP posts:
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Ellisandra · 13/01/2020 23:23

@maloofhoof I agree with you - and it’s a much better thread!

JohnandMary · 13/01/2020 23:24

This guy is a local celebrity where I live :).

mobile.twitter.com/johnsy83/status/566122009369669635?lang=en

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 13/01/2020 23:24

Growing up there was a guy who used to walk down the main street into the town an back every single day with a newspaper opened up directly in front if his face. Every day without fail.

One day we noticed he didn't walk by any more Sad

TurningLeaves · 13/01/2020 23:24

On the school run I drive past Daniel Craig's old house!

Stinkycatbreath · 13/01/2020 23:26

@Ginfordinner......Barnsley? Im Kate Rusby fan😁

Pinkarsedfly · 13/01/2020 23:27

Oh, I get it now.

Our local weed dealer gets about on a wheel. It’s like a proper thing, a wheel with steps through the middle and he just zooms about like the Policeman off Jamie and the Magic Torch.

I call him Deals on Wheels.

catinb0oots · 13/01/2020 23:29

The bearded lady of Guildford

Momof2boys1girl · 13/01/2020 23:31

@Ellisandra. Is he called Malcolm and where’s a helmet? If so I live near you

Lurleene · 13/01/2020 23:32

We have Gordon the Tramp who despite the name is not a tramp. He is famous for being able to tell you the exact time even though he doesn't wear a watch. He has made the news all over the world.

I havent seen him around for a while, he is 92 now but as far as I know he is still knocking about.

Ginfordinner · 13/01/2020 23:33

In the area Stinky. I have seen her at the gym and in Tesco.

stepitupjuan · 13/01/2020 23:35

I used to live in the same road as two premiership footballers. Now my neighbour is a chap who won New Faces in the 70's. Another local is Omar, very big in the adult film industry. Shirley Williams lived 2 streets away in the early 80's. Frank Cottrell Boyce is about half a mile away.

stepitupjuan · 13/01/2020 23:36

I'd love to bump into Owl scooter man. There is a local man who walks his rabbit on a lead and takes it the pub now and again.

MT2017 · 13/01/2020 23:37

@SpunBodgeSquarepants there are many more round here, aren't there?!

Ellisandra · 13/01/2020 23:38

@Momof2boys1girl I don’t know his name, but no helmet! Good to hear of more inspirational older runners though 👍🏻

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 13/01/2020 23:40

Loads where I grew up. The Mad Jogger, a guy who used to jog around the villages in filthy clothes and people said he lived in a beach hut. Juggling Jim who was a busker and could not play anything, and everyone claimed to know him and that he was actually a millionaire who used to be a doctor.

So actually people with MH issues but people were kind to them and looked out for them.

MovingBriskyOn · 13/01/2020 23:43

Lurleene my DH can tell the time without a watch. I used to wake him up to ask him what the time was and he always knew.

He's not 92, though.

LetsBeSensible · 13/01/2020 23:45

Mobility scooter man used to sit outside the local pub in summer playing jazz on his ghetto blaster, drinking cans of Stella and eating ham butties. Used to cause consternation when he’s stand up and go in the pub to use the loo (is a mobility scooter not a wheelchair!!!)

Not seen him for a few years now. Too gentrified these days.

I never knew purple Aki was real until a few years ago! I thought it was a made up story to scare kids, like a bogeyman.

Alexandra54 · 13/01/2020 23:45

I was going to say the Bearded Lady of Guildford too! She was the local celeb where I grew up, although haven't seen her for a few years since I moved away.
Was thinking of her recently and wondering if she was still around?

Backofthebunty · 13/01/2020 23:46

Everyone here knows the cowboy who has now given up his guns and Stetson now he has found god.

stepitupjuan · 13/01/2020 23:47

There was an elderly busker in Liverpool city centre who used to play a cardboard banjo, replete with plink plink sounds. He's passed away now and buried in Ireland with his parents but he was a feature of every night out. Everyone used to clap and join in the plinking and of course give him some bob.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 13/01/2020 23:48

We have a middle aged rasta who used to walk about barefoot and bare chested all year round. Sadly the drugs caught up with him and he now has had both legs amputated, but still wheels around bare chested in his wheelchair.

hallygore · 13/01/2020 23:50

I'm it lol. I drive a red london taxi in Leeds where we don't have London cabs. Get loads of waves wherever I go, especially at Christmas when the decorations went up as I'd been delivering Christmas presents to the hospital

theneighbourswindchime · 13/01/2020 23:51

There was a woman in my town who's hair was sooo matted, it was one big flap that hung down her back. If you were behind her, you could smell it 5 ft away!!!!

Suchan1d10t · 13/01/2020 23:54

@ThisIsNotARealAvo I grew up somewhere near where you live as juggling Jim was THE local celebrity. (no idea about the jogger though, maybe that's a recent addition!)
A family member knew JJ personally though (through work) and yes he did used to have a very well paid job, and despite popular belief wasn't actually homeless. He was however suffering quite severe MH issues in his later years... But a lovely harmless guy just rubbish at juggling!

pigdogridesagain · 13/01/2020 23:55

Elton John lives a couple of miles from me. We also have a rather famous family that live in a big castle a mile or so away, although I gather this family is now going to be two members less now!