Characters

66Mustang

I thought this could be a nice idea for a thread as it is on another forum I use and people shared some interesting stories.

It’s about local “characters”. I’m sure every town must have one, unless my town is just a bit odd. I want to hear about the local characters you have either where you currently live, or if you want, they can be ones that you remember from the past.

Just to say: I am aware that some people mentioned may have issues. This is in no way intended to mock people with mental health issues, it’s just for sharing stories about the characters that make the world an interesting and unusual place.

A few from me…

Shorts man - he would go about normal business in town but would always be seen in unbelievably short shorts, so short he might as well not have bothered to put them on. He could be seen in his shorts regardless of weather or season. Interestingly though, he would otherwise be dressed appropriately so in winter he would have a hat and coat on, but just the shorts on his legs. Sadly, I haven’t seen him for several years. 

Jesus - my recollection of this person is not too good but I have seen him many times and the name people gave him summed up his appearance nicely. He looked a bit like he was homeless but apparently had a house and money and used to have a good job. He would approach strangers and have good conversations with them but after a while would start telling them the world was going to end. Again, not seen him for a while unfortunately.

Bird lady - not in my local town but a town I visit regularly. She would be seen walking around with birds perched all over her, and others flying around near her. I don’t know if the birds were hers or whether they were wild ones that she attracted with bread or something. I saw her last time I was in her town so she is still about. 

Over to you!

Sandy_123

There a man In my neighbourhood who sits on a wall with a pint of milk, every time a bus goes past he puts thumbs ? to the drivers, been doing that for 30 years I know of and he sits there for hours at a time every day. 

[Deleted User]

I can relate to the short shorts @66Mustang this person wore their shorts incredibly high so that everything... bulged. And it most definitely was a sight to behold in hot and sweaty weather! 

Where I live now, is where I'm originally from, so when I was younger we would always see this old bloke, a lovely bloke too, walking about town with a long walking stick and extraordinary hats.

I don't mean like top hats, these hats were so much taller! I'm talking like the cat in the hat tall! He had so many, he had a Guinness hat, a Union Jack hat, various drink brands, and many more. Honestly, I felt like a tourist in my own town sometimes because he was a regular sight to be spotted!

Sadly, I've not seen him since moving back here, so if he has passed, then I hope he has a new hat to add to his collection and that he was a very loved character within our town

[Deleted User]

Sandy_123 said:

There a man In my neighbourhood who sits on a wall with a pint of milk, every time a bus goes past he puts thumbs ? to the drivers, been doing that for 30 years I know of and he sits there for hours at a time every day. 

He sounds lovely! I must admit though, my first thought when I read your reply was 'I wonder how many pints of milk had gone off by the time he got home over the 30 years!'

leeCal

We have a local who wears various hats, mostly berets of various colours but his coat is literally of many colours and to top it all he has a very long waxed moustache! He’s diminutive in size but he certainly makes up for it.

Another chap believes every conspiracy story going but is very knowledgable about most things. Quite a paradox really. ?

66Mustang

Thanks for sharing everyone, nice to read

@Sandy_123 I love that, I can just imagine him hehe, sounds really innocent and inoffensive but a real character

@leeCal I know somebody who is similar, doesn’t believe everything but some things. Very very clever, used to be a scientist, but can be a little bit of what I like to call a tin foil hat wearer.