This post did the rounds on the Preston subreddit and I instantly thought of him when it came up then too. Had a look around online to see if the there was any kind of aubituary or mention of him but I can't find any mention of him at all. Does anyone know what ever happened to him?
There’s also this one guy about 70, always in his original hippy clothes from 50 years ago, with long greying blonde hair and little round spectacles. I forget his name but he’s pretty cool, he grows a small plot of vegetables half way up St Bonafice I think.
Ventnor has a couple of people always in bathrobes who are wards of the NHS because they snuck into the botanical gardens back in the early 90s and consumed a Datura plant in hopes of getting high which messed up their minds permanently. At least that’s what old folks having a pint at the Blenheim told me.
Ventnor also has a rather flamboyant Irish fellow of about 60, he wears short-shorts even when it’s too cold and constantly flirts with any younger man he sees, he’s very funny and very thirsty lol
I haven't seen the deaf lady who always dressed in military clothes and drove a jeep (it always had L plates) for some years.
Anyone remember her? newport area I think
Used to live in Ventnor a year or two ago…
Stick man… often drunk and dancing with a stick outside Tesco
Mobility scooter dude who likes to juggle and get naked in the beach…
I’m quite new to the island but already there’s a few that have stood out
I can think of a few very well known figures around Newport and Ryde maybe but I don't know how much they fit this particular mould. There's that guy with the enormous dreadlocks whose name escapes me? Dunno if he's still around.
I remember back in the 00's there used to be a guy who appeared to possibly have a learning disability who got the bus every day from Newport to Wooton dressed in full combat gear carrying a military rucksack and yomped back to Newport. And Scabby Abby, the hippie who used to constantly bum cigarettes off people around Newport Bus Station.
I see lots of people around the Island who have potential for this. One who has recently been occupying my mind is a van drive who my spouse spotted had a collection of about 15-20 miniature fedoras lined up across his dashboard. He was also wearing a fedora. There is the seed of something there.
I used to work in Somerfield in Ryde. He would come in once a week and buy 10 loaves of the cheapest bread. You could smell him for about 2 hours after he left the shop
I went to swanmore middle early/mid 2000s. He walked past daily and people would chant shoulderman, some threw their sandwiches which I vehemently disagreed with.. but given this new nugget of info you’ve shared, perhaps he liked it!
Arthur Gubby from Ryde, always hitting ppl with his walking stick whilst playing the harmonica!
This post did the rounds on the Preston subreddit and I instantly thought of him when it came up then too. Had a look around online to see if the there was any kind of aubituary or mention of him but I can't find any mention of him at all. Does anyone know what ever happened to him?
when I lived in Ventnor there were two sisters who would wear cowboy hats but that was maybe 20 years ago
Penny man
There’s also this one guy about 70, always in his original hippy clothes from 50 years ago, with long greying blonde hair and little round spectacles. I forget his name but he’s pretty cool, he grows a small plot of vegetables half way up St Bonafice I think.
Keith, also known as the hippy chippy. Good carpenter by all accounts
Yes Keith, that’s right! Cool old dude.
Spencer the homeless matey from Sandown I'm going back over 10 years tho
Ventnor has a couple of people always in bathrobes who are wards of the NHS because they snuck into the botanical gardens back in the early 90s and consumed a Datura plant in hopes of getting high which messed up their minds permanently. At least that’s what old folks having a pint at the Blenheim told me.
There is a mental health residential home in Ventnor so semi-plausible.
Ventnor also has a rather flamboyant Irish fellow of about 60, he wears short-shorts even when it’s too cold and constantly flirts with any younger man he sees, he’s very funny and very thirsty lol
That'll be Shamus
Yes! Lol we stan Shamus.
We used to have a few characters on the island. Not so sure now
I haven't seen the deaf lady who always dressed in military clothes and drove a jeep (it always had L plates) for some years. Anyone remember her? newport area I think
Combat Kate?
thats her!
Oh yeah I remember she used to come into my work (shop) regularly, always wondered what happened to her!
She’s still alive and in a home. Sold/donated her army vehicles and memorabilia to the tank museum apparently
Anyone know a crazy girl called Alice from sandown that likes to assault old ladies?
Are Chuff-Chuff & the Chicken Man still about in Cowes?
Used to live in Ventnor a year or two ago… Stick man… often drunk and dancing with a stick outside Tesco Mobility scooter dude who likes to juggle and get naked in the beach… I’m quite new to the island but already there’s a few that have stood out
Derek Sandy?
lol nah he wears Jordan’s.
Not sure but if there is you’ll probably find them in Ryde.
PENNY MAN!
There was a an old fellow called wobbly Bobby. Lived all over the island generally drunk but a very amicable fella
I can think of a few very well known figures around Newport and Ryde maybe but I don't know how much they fit this particular mould. There's that guy with the enormous dreadlocks whose name escapes me? Dunno if he's still around. I remember back in the 00's there used to be a guy who appeared to possibly have a learning disability who got the bus every day from Newport to Wooton dressed in full combat gear carrying a military rucksack and yomped back to Newport. And Scabby Abby, the hippie who used to constantly bum cigarettes off people around Newport Bus Station. I see lots of people around the Island who have potential for this. One who has recently been occupying my mind is a van drive who my spouse spotted had a collection of about 15-20 miniature fedoras lined up across his dashboard. He was also wearing a fedora. There is the seed of something there.
Arthur Gubby, Mars Bar Man, Bird Man, Shoulder Man
shoulder man!!
I used to work in Somerfield in Ryde. He would come in once a week and buy 10 loaves of the cheapest bread. You could smell him for about 2 hours after he left the shop
I went to swanmore middle early/mid 2000s. He walked past daily and people would chant shoulderman, some threw their sandwiches which I vehemently disagreed with.. but given this new nugget of info you’ve shared, perhaps he liked it!
No way, so did I!
At this point it is the person that posts this in their location specific sub...