does anyone remember big ada, she used to work on dixon lane market..

Yes
When I was fist married she sold me 2 or 3 lettuce leaves instead of a lettuce, and I was too afraid of her to take it back.
She was an awesome Lady ( I take that back she was no lady)

Hazel

I remember being terrified of Big Ada when I was little. My uncle used to run a pub in Dixon Lane, nicknamed The Cowsheds, and she was one of his regulars. she once gave me a two shilling piece for singing her a song and I burst out crying.

Wow,mention of the "Cowsheds"how many people knew where these were?,when doing my National Service in the RAF a mate of mine from London came home with me for a 48 and my Father took us round many of the "Watering Holes"unknown to me at that time,and these included the cowsheds,thanks for a happy memory

I remember Big Ada she had the top pitch at the very top of Dixon Lane.

I was there early one Saturday morning when some misguided but very fellow set up his barrow on her pitch.

She went ballistic, I have never seen anyone move his stuff so fast

The air was blue with her language and she threatened to throw him, his barrow and his stock down the lane.

She wasn't called Big Ada for nothing as she was immense.

Happy Days!

Does anyone remember little Herbert down Dixon Lane from the same era as big ada,he used to go in the Double Six(Old number12)for a drinkand the landlord used to put the glass on the bar where he couldnt reach it It washumourous watching him try to get hold of his pint

For a few years in her career,Big Ada used to go in the Barleycorn a lot on Cambridge Street.{I think it's Henry's now ?]
Most of the time she sat on a stool at the bar ,chatting to the Landlady,who,I think ,came from London---this was the early or mid---60's.
All sorts of rumours,stories and legends grew up,concerning Ada.I don't know what was true or false as I never knew her personally,but, not many people in Sheffield at that time would take librties with her !

Was it 'Little Herbert', Who used to sell,"get your dancing micky,a micky or a minnie" in the old rag market?

Memories, Memories!

"Get your dancing Micky's, a Micky or a Minnie.

Everyone's a winner!

Those few words bring so many memories come flooding back

Thanks Sweetdexter!



Happy Days!

Hi Vera, here's the thread you wanted.
Brings back memories.
Hazel

Little Herbert used to shout, "Get yer Bouncin' Mickeys, everyone a novelty. Get yer kiddie of me stall lady, 'ees peeing on the raddishes". Many happy memories.

This thread as been on a couple of times before.... "the bouncing Micky theme" was one of my mate's favourate party pieces..as i remember it went like this ..

Get your Bouncing Micky's here
Get your Bouncing Micky's here
Every one on a string
Every one on a spring
If they don't bounce today
they'll bounce tomorrow
If they don't bounce tomorrow
They ain't Bouncing Micky's

He used to stand at the top of the Moor with a tray full of Mickey's...and we Kid's used to mimic him.

Because my Grandmother had a stall in Dixon’s lane we knew Big Ada well, i was around Mums tonight digging up some dirt.
Mum was saying she saw Ada once pinned a bloke up against the wall and beat the crap out of the poor bloke which was understandable knowing her size.

Mum remembers cursing her and Ada tried to chase her around her warehouse fortunately she didn’t catch her.

Also she remembers little Herbert he had something to do with the flower stall on the opposite corner to the Norfolk Arms pub.

My grandma Martha Barker and my Mum knew Big Ada ,
she used to live near them on Durham Road.
My Mum recalls an incident of Ada getting stuck in a taxi
after having a few too many, it took quite a few
of the neighbours to drag her out and put her to bed.
Does anyone remember this incident.

Although Big Ada was married, she was, in fact, a lesbian.
An interesting fact is that she got married for a five pound bet!

Although Big Ada was married, she was, in fact, a lesbian.
An interesting fact is that she got married for a five pound bet!

The blond girl who worked on the stall with her was her partner, any bloke who tried to chat her up ended up getting a clip from Ada. :help:

my dad was her barrow boy

Yes I do , she was my grandmother
She was born in 14th November 1914. and passed away in June 1977.
She was buried in city road.

She was called Ada O'Connor and was married 1945 (mom was 4) and became Ada Hanksworth. Her husband being George William Hawkworth ( variety artist (drag queen) in soldiers in skirts).
Ada's stall was at the top of Dixon lane on the Burton clothes shop, second one ,first one being a flower stall. She sold salad stuff , lettuce , tom's ,cress etc , and on mothers day she sold violet's.

My sister is doing our family tree at the moment so she has all the photos of Ada, I'll get some from her and post some up if anyone's interested .

Mark

My mate's dad told us a joke when we were little: 'What does Big Ada weigh? Tomatoes!'

It makes sense now!

I recall buying a lettuce off her way back. She wanted a shilling I think so I said ''That's a price of a pint of beer, I'll gi'yer a tanner.'' She gave me a hard look and said ''Goo'n then, tha'rt gooin' t' gerron in life.'' She must have been in a mellow mood that day,or she'd bought the lettuces at a good price. She was OK.

Memories, Memories!

"Get your dancing Micky's, a Micky or a Minnie.

Everyone's a winner!

Those few words bring so many memories come flooding back

Thanks Sweetdexter!



Happy Days!

What was a dancing Mickey? A Mickey Mouse doll on a string? Just don't remember it.

Dancing Mickey's and Minnie's were coloured cardboard cutouts of the Disney characters.

They had very thin cotton strings attached and you could dance them on the pavement.

For some reason you could never get them to dance like the seller but they were amusing to watch, very popular with kids.

Happy Days! PopT

yes i remember her i used to deliver salad and fruit to her i worked for a haulier in the parkway markets. she had a wharehouse at the back of thackerays fishing tackle shop on sheaf street,there was also a smaller woman called lilly i think who shared the wharehouse with her (what a pair of characters hearts of gold though).also delivered to a mr perrozzi on dixon lanea small chap with a very gruff voice ha a son called paul ,i used to knock around with him on the wybourn and manor park ,other lads with us were pete knight glen swoboda pete jesney had some great times fishing together .when we went to thackarys for our bait edith erics wife would fill our tins full of maggots and a few free hooks i think she liked a tipple or twoshe was a diamond ,happy days!

who was the man who sold monkeys on a stick?anyone remember them?

My Dad actually sings about Big Ada, lol.. If he's singing a song but doesn't know the proper words he'll sing about Big Ada! :hihi:

My Dad actually sings about Big Ada, lol.. If he's singing a song but doesn't know the proper words he'll sing about Big Ada! :hihi:

Big Ada would be about 25 yrs old when l first met her, l was 14, a green apprentice cabinet maker at Cockaynes,l had to go errands during the morn and one of the blokes asked me to go to her and ask for a pound of damaged tomatoes, she said what's his name who sent thee for them, l said Roland, Roland who she said, l don't know his other name said l, well tell him l am on the lookout for him and when l find him i'll break his f.......g neck, when l told him he went white and said why did you tell her my name, bloke on the next bench said it serves thee right, and she will make it in her way to search thee out, he went whiter still. l got my own back a few days later and told him she had grabbed me and forced me to tell her thee name, and where l worked. she said she was coming up there later this afternoon, l can't stand chuffs who take the **** outer kids he had the afternoon off! Cheers Arfer Mo

Yes I remember Big Ada well, she really was a big woman and I know exactly what she weighed---------------------------------------------TOMATOES

Dancing Mickey's and Minnie's were coloured cardboard cutouts of the Disney characters.

They had very thin cotton strings attached and you could dance them on the pavement.

For some reason you could never get them to dance like the seller but they were amusing to watch, very popular with kids.

Happy Days! PopT

They still sell them in the markets in Spain.

I knew Big Ada when i was a kid, my Grandmother had a stall at the bottom end of Dixons lane so to me everyone who worked in the lane was either an Aunt or Uncle
I spoke to Mum about her and she remembered her and then she came up with the funniest comment i think Mum ever said " Tha did know she was a lesbian" Classic Mum....
I suppose i was around 10 or 11 when i used to hang around the lane with my Grandmother.

my dad was her barrow boy

My dad used to work for a taxi company called ruben thomsons or something or other back in the 60s,anyway when ada wanted a taxi she rang and asked if dad was free,this dident go down well with mam but dad always said she was a good tipper..:hihi:

Yes I do , she was my grandmother
She was born in 14th November 1914. and passed away in June 1977.
She was buried in city road.

She was called Ada O'Connor and was married 1945 (mom was 4) and became Ada Hanksworth. Her husband being George William Hawkworth ( variety artist (drag queen) in soldiers in skirts).
Ada's stall was at the top of Dixon lane on the Burton clothes shop, second one ,first one being a flower stall. She sold salad stuff , lettuce , tom's ,cress etc , and on mothers day she sold violet's.

My sister is doing our family tree at the moment so she has all the photos of Ada, I'll get some from her and post some up if anyone's interested .

Mark

hi am doing my famly tree and i was told by a relative that my great uncle george william hawksworth was thought to be gay.that he was a drag queen and variety artist and that he married ada .if you can post any photos of her that would be great,do you have any of george at all. i have photos of his brothers and sisters but none of him .regards pete.