Can anybody remember the local character Pond Street Nora in the 1970's? She could often be seen sitting on the benches in the old Pond Street bus station surrounded by all her belongings stuffed in carrier bags. I can remember seeing her for a decade or more then she disappeared. I wonder what became of her.

Mo

I heard she ran off with the Duke of Darnall!

Probably both dead, I remember the duke of darnall in the fifty's standing at the top of Angel street directing the traffic, ( where the policeman used to stand on point duty ) dressed in his usual black bowler hat, pinstripe trouser's, frock coat and rolled umbrella waving his hand's about,( just like the policeman) with traffic zooming past him not taking a blind bit of notice. He once jumped out in front of me when I was driving a double deck bus down the moor and I had to hit the brakes throwing my conductress flat on her face on the top deck. The duke of darnall was not responsible for his action's, he should have been kept in a secure, safe place instead of being let loose on the community. :roll: :roll: :roll: Hal. Evans.

I can remember another man with a bald head who used to look in all the litter bins in town. Did he have a nick-name?

I used to work in the old Queens head at the bus station. There were a fair few characters wound up in there. Don't know about the above though, am a little too young I think. But we did have someone we called doorman Dave. He would on a regular basis, infact i think it was at acertain time each day,walk round the outside of the building giving each door a good rattle, just to check we were all safe, and then wander off. I still see him occasionaly. People wandering about talking to them selves, all part of Sheffields character :?

I remember being chased by Pond Street Nora in the late 60's, along with a load of other kids for chanting at her.

We were somewhere near Bramall Lane and one of my mates said 'Oooh look, there's Pond Street Nora' and all the kids started chanting 'Nora, Nora!' and she chased us all away. I hadn't heard of her before then. Don't think I ever saw her again. :)

:cry: unfortunately i heard pond street nora died a while ago,i was also told she went a little crazy because she had a child in the change and had it removed from her,poor lady to think somewhere there could be a child out there not knowing :(

yea i remember him come to think of it there was two guys poss same height with bald head and the one im thinking of in the poss late 50/60s wore a r.a.f. long coat and if my mind is correct i heard he was a ace in the war in spitfires and it sent him a bit funny after he came out of the hospital also i was told he was decorated for him being a hero etc.

Pond Street Norah died in the 80s and i she was always in the bus station and remember Cyril the tramp in the subway hole in the road.I broke my arm in 1972 and went to the hospital were Cyril was there having his toe nails cut by the nurses. Not a job i,d attempt.
Cyril was found dead in the shop doorway at Britsh homestores on the haymarket some years ago.
He simply died in his sleep, probably due to the weather conditions.

Originally posted by "Anonymous"

Can anybody remember the local character Pond Street Nora in the 1970's? She could often be seen sitting on the benches in the old Pond Street bus station surrounded by all her belongings stuffed in carrier bags. I can remember seeing her for a decade or more then she disappeared. I wonder what became of her.

Moyes i remember pond street nora i give her a cig once she was a big lady and yes she could run fast

My nan used to tell me stories about Pond Street Nora when I was younger! The hole in the road... I wish it was still there, I used to love going in there with me dad! Am I right in saying that there was a 'Transport Executive' type thing in there??
Chloé

Originally posted by "Chloe"

My nan used to tell me stories about Pond Street Nora when I was younger! The hole in the road... I wish it was still there, I used to love going in there with me dad! Am I right in saying that there was a 'Transport Executive' type thing in there??
Chloéhello who is your nan maybe i know your nan let me know ok thank you

My nan? Doubt you'll know her. But, her name was Charlotte Goodwin (her maiden name was Carrier) Married me grandad Dennis Goodwin and lived at Attercliffe before moving to the Manor Park in probably 1956/57. Lived there up until they both died about 5/6 years ago.
Chloé

hello no i dont know your nan but thank you for telling me about them

Yes, I remember Pond St. Nora in the 70s, I never got too near because of the stink she gave off. Does anyone remember long Sammy who used to ride a scooter ( not motor ) round Sheffield City Centre?

Reading other messages reminded me of a couple of incidents that happened round about 1979. Once in Commonside, Walkley with a couple of other teenage friends when a skinny little bloke on a mobelet type pedal moped pulled along side us, stopped and said "i like yer feet" and then shot off on his way. A couple of weeks later near the Hollybush pub in Rivelin exactly the same thing happened again......very strange...please someone tell me that i didn't dream it..

Anybody remember Russian Edna? She used to frequent the Barleycorn, near Barkers Pool!

Originally posted by tazlady636
:cry: unfortunately i heard pond street nora died a while ago,i was also told she went a little crazy because she had a child in the change and had it removed from her,poor lady to think somewhere there could be a child out there not knowing :( i think she was hit with a bus some body told me that dont know if its true

Hi, all.

Yeah, I remember Nora. I can remember her once singing "I'm Nora the queen of pond street bogs!" at the top of her voice.

My favourite though, was Happy Harry. He hung around the city center in a dodgy suit. Every now and then he'd suddenly throw his hands in the air and run down the street cheering and going wacky like he'd just won the lottery. Bit like Timmy Mallet.

I remember Pond Street Nora, and CAN confirm that she DID have a change of life baby. I was in ward 26 of the NGH expecting twins in 1975, when Pond Street Nora was brought up to the ward from the ante natal clinic to have a bath because the Docs refused to examine her until she was clean. I was on ward 25 after the birth of my twins when Nora was admitted after the birth of her child, a little girl ,the child was given for adoption. A beautiful child, I remember holding her while the nurses prepared her bottle.:lol: She had beautiful blonde hair, and was a big baby too.

Originally posted by Angel Aran
I remember Pond Street Nora, and CAN confirm that she DID have a change of life baby. I was in ward 26 of the NGH expecting twins in 1975, when Pond Street Nora was brought up to the ward from the ante natal clinic to have a bath because the Docs refused to examine her until she was clean. I was on ward 25 after the birth of my twins when Nora was admitted after the birth of her child, a little girl ,the child was given for adoption. A beautiful child, I remember holding her while the nurses prepared her bottle.:lol: She had beautiful blonde hair, and was a big baby too. in 1975 nora was to old to have a baby she was old in 1964 do you have the same nora

Cant be, she was as old as my gran and i,m 44.
She certainly looked old in the 60s but living rough like that could make you look older anyway.
Even if she had a baby in the 70s which i find it hard to believe she did, that was not the cause of her downfall.
Who ever the father was he was a brave guy.

I remember Pond street Nora from the 70s,and I think she was too old to have any baby.I also remember the Duke of Darnell,with his white gloves and spats.Can anyone remember the old gentleman of the road that used to hang out in the Wicker?he used to have a little case and when he had something to eat he would get a little cloth out and put it on his case as a tablecloth.He was always polite and pleasant,that is why the called him Gentleman Jim.

I remember Pond Street Nora, she used to always wear a headscarf a dark brown coat and white running slippers.
When one of my sisters and I used to go to town we used to use the toilets in Pond Street. We used to be scared to go down the steps to them because Nora would always be laid down on the toilet floor with the door shut, bedded down for the night. she never came out but she would be shouting and we always saw her feet with the white slipperson sticking out under the door.
We would run quietly back up the stairs and breathe a sigh of relief that she didn.t get us.

The chap that walked around looking in waste bins we used to call Rommel, he always wore a pair of welding goggles a long raincoat and I dont remeber him ever wearing a shirt.

Nora was well known to us bus inspectors in the old Pond St bus station. She was once told to move on by "Bob Tanner" the Chief Inspector, she could often be seen after that walking round shouting "Ill get you, f.....G Bob Tanner" Quite a character, she eventually was taken in at Middlewood hospital, and given some sort of job in the kitchens.

Me and my friend Joan popped into pond street toilets on our way home from seeing Dave Berry above the Frechville Co-op, I opened the toilet door and there was Nora all tucked up for the night on the floor, she chased us up those stairs and out of Pond Street, we ran as fast as our stilletoe heels would allow, I think she'd had more to drink than us, so we made it to Fitzalan Square unscathed.

I remember going to school one day, used to have to catch the bus at pond st, there used to be some flowers by a cafe somewhere near the station I think (the memories fading!) cant remember the name, anyway all the tulips had no flowers on and I remember being told Nora ate all the heads off the tulips. Thats my one great memory of Nora, that and the fact that the only word you could make out she was shouting began with F...

The bald headed guy in Flat St who used to look in the litter bins
was nicknamed Rommel by some people because he used to wear welding goggles a gaberdine raincoat no shirt and always seemed to wear wellingtons

pond stret nora,the duke,and rommel must seem strange to the younger folks on this forum,so for them i mention the tall bloke with the extremely baggy cheeks who picks up all the dog ends in town and lights them up without burning his nose.(though he probably has no hair up there)!

also the guy who walks round with a pair of 1970's style bukta shorts on whatever the weather.

And one last one for anyone who lived on parson cross in the 70's,can you remember Eddie Bedstead who used to hang around the shops on buchanan road.

I remember Nora.
I used to be terrified of going to the toilet in the bus station if she was there, and being a child all I could see was a 'Wild Woman' who shouted and swore at everyone especially the kids. Mind you a lot of the kids were very nasty to her so in a way, looking back I don't really blame her!

Us Oldtimers remember "Big Aida" Now she was notorious in the 40's & 50's..I'll bet theres a lot of stories about her adventures..I last saw her when I was 19 years old.in the old Albert Pub...She was Scarey.

Was she the one with the weighing scales or did she sell flowers or something on Dixon Lane

Originally posted by rainbow2411
Was she the one with the weighing scales or did she sell flowers or something on Dixon Lane Yes she was the one Selling Flowers...A Policeman once remarked about her " I woudn't p**s on her if she was on fire...She was very popular with them.

Littlemalc. Just read your post about 'us bus inspectors'. Did you know my uncle Alf Stones? He was an inspector for many years. I last saw him in 1964, wnen I was a driver at SCTD, and I know he was an inspector then.

for anyone who lived on parson cross in the 70's,can you remember Eddie Bedstead who used to hang around the shops on buchanan road

No but I can remember Sammy, who used to hang around Margetson Crescent, where my dad had a shop

YEAH I REMEMBER HER, SHE WAS WELL KNOWN IN TOWN, GOD KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS SHE LASTED OUT THERE, SAD REALLY ISN`T IT.
USE TO ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE ON WORDSWORTH TOO, CALLED NODDY, DOES ANYONE REMEMBER HIM?

View picture of Long Sammy at www.pictureshefield.com reference number s08786
what's his story??

Anyone remember Nellie Wellow? She used to live on Donovan Road and once smashed all her doors up for firewood. The council replaced them, and she did the same again.

She was pretty scary when I was a kid.

And there was Don too who lived round there somewhere. He was disabled and rode around in a weird looking trolley/bike thing that he pedalled with his hands. He was always at Wednesday's home matches in the 60's.

Yup! I remember her, I used to pass her house on the bus and she used to stand outside her home with every pain of glass smashed..small woman with jamjar bottom specs...
And Donald, I think he was kicked by a horse when he was young. and spent the rest of his life in the wheelchair

Growing uo in the 60's at Southey, I remember her! but to us kids she was known as Ivy Wello , a very frightening figure with a foul mouth.

She got her name from the footwear she always wore, whatever the time of year, or whatever the weather, she would always be wearing wellingtons, which seemed to be two sizes to big.

As a young woman in tne sixties, I remember Nora in pond street, I caught my bus there every day,sadly she was found dead in the bus station, natural causes, so they say.

Originally posted by Saxon
No but I can remember Sammy, who used to hang around Margetson Crescent, where my dad had a shop

Sammy and Eddie Bedstead were actually the same person. He lived on Buchanan Crescent, next to the Parson Cross Hotel, with his ageing dad. His catch phrase was "Gizza fag". He used to help Cyril Deakin (Margetson shops) laying out the veg sometimes, for the price of 5 Park Drive Tipped. When you took the trouble to speak to him, he was quite a nice guy, but few ever did. For us kids growing up in the sixties, he was an ever present character. I've got a very rare foto of him, and once told a girlfriend that he was my dad - I never saw her again!!

Originally posted by elaine
As a young woman in tne sixties, I remember Nora in pond street, I caught my bus there every day,sadly she was found dead in the bus station, natural causes, so they say. she didnt die in pondstreet she died in middlewood hospital of cancer in 1986

Originally posted by porsche
she didnt die in pondstreet she died in middlewood hospital of cancer in 1986 her full name was nora kathleen welburne,she married a man called thomas lee they had a baby together a littlle girl called kathleen, she had the baby in 1945 nora was in her early 30s.they split up and nora kept her little girl till she was 10 and she was taken off of her and put in a childrens home then fostered out till she was 18.her daughter knew about nora but because of the stigmar, kathleen didnt contact her mother,she was affraid of her as you all could understand...kathleen met a man and got married and nora saw them together once or twice and would swear at them saying ff........ men ect ect...so they tryed to avoid nora at all costs... my mum kathleen was ashamed to be who she was for a long time and didnt think she was good enough but believe me it doesnt matter where you come from its the person you are inside, and like i was saying you coundnt meet a nicer person (nothing like her mum in tempermant,)if my mum swears i look at her suprised for she hardly swears, kathleen has done well for herself regardless of the past,she has a wonderful caring husband a daughter who thinks the world of her a graddaughter and grandson who adore her....nobody really knows what nora went through and in this day and age there is alot of people like her and we dont really take note but that was in the olden days times have really changed, nora really hated men why only she knows and i bet alot of women might agree,she had a hard life.... SO FOLKS THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO NORA OF PONDSTREET.......from what her daughter recalls anyway ,can anybody fill in the space inbetween????? final thought you cant judge a book by the cover can you?????? nora died at 71 in 1986 in middlewood hospital of cancer and skin cancer we have the death certificate........x

Originally posted by oldtimer
Anybody remember Russian Edna? She used to frequent the Barleycorn, near Barkers Pool! wasnt she murdered in high hazels park ?

Originally posted by Chloe
My nan used to tell me stories about Pond Street Nora when I was younger! The hole in the road... I wish it was still there, I used to love going in there with me dad! Am I right in saying that there was a 'Transport Executive' type thing in there??
Chloé did your nan know nora?

Originally posted by Cycleracer
Cant be, she was as old as my gran and i,m 44.
She certainly looked old in the 60s but living rough like that could make you look older anyway.
Even if she had a baby in the 70s which i find it hard to believe she did, that was not the cause of her downfall.
Who ever the father was he was a brave guy. did your gran know nora then?

does anybody have any pictures of nora or anything else please .....

Originally posted by Guest
Can anybody remember the local character Pond Street Nora in the 1970's? She could often be seen sitting on the benches in the old Pond Street bus station surrounded by all her belongings stuffed in carrier bags. I can remember seeing her for a decade or more then she disappeared. I wonder what became of her.

Mo did you know nora mo?

Originally posted by depoix
wasnt she murdered in high hazels park ? .............


Yes Depoix .you are rite about Russian Edna. I used to work next to the Barly Corn she was always in there. Used to knock about with the Duke of Darnall. She was found murdered in High Hazels. They thought the Duke was to blame I don't know what the outcome was. Maybe someone else knows

[QUOTE]Originally posted by porsche
[B]her full name was nora kathleen welburne,she married a man called thomas lee they had a baby together a littlle girl called kathleen, she had the baby in 1945 nora was in her early 30s.they.......................................... .................................................. ..

Thank you for the info. Porsche. Hope we will let it lie now.
We don,t know what circumstances people live in or for what reason. Thank goodness we have a healthy happy life.Be nice if everyone had that.
Regards Vera

thought you cant judge a book by the cover can you?????? nora died at 71 in 1986 in middlewood hospital of cancer and skin cancer we have the death certificate........x [/B][/QUOTE]

Thank you so much for sharing that with us porsche, it must have taken a lot of soul searching to put that on here, when there have been so many negative things said about nora.

Originally posted by vhopkinson
[QUOTE]Originally posted by porsche
[B]her full name was nora kathleen welburne,she married a man called thomas lee they had a baby together a littlle girl called kathleen, she had the baby in 1945 nora was in her early 30s.they.......................................... .................................................. ..

Thank you for the info. Porsche. Hope we will let it lie now.
We don,t know what circumstances people live in or for what reason. Thank goodness we have a healthy happy life.Be nice if everyone had that.
Regards Vera somethings you cant let lie but i understand your point of view thanks anyway

Originally posted by owdlad
thought you cant judge a book by the cover can you?????? nora died at 71 in 1986 in middlewood hospital of cancer and skin cancer we have the death certificate........x

Thank you so much for sharing that with us porsche, it must have taken a lot of soul searching to put that on here, when there have been so many negative things said about nora. [/B][/QUOTE] like i said noboby really knew nora ,now adays alot of people are very much like nora but it goes unnoticed and she didnt hurt anybody just swore at them yea!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by marie1951
yes i remember pond street nora i give her a cig once she was a big lady and yes she could run fast she cant have scared you that bad then if you gave her a fa g or two?

Originally posted by porsche
she cant have scared you that bad then if you gave her a fa g or two?

Why so defensive? It seems like you're trying to re-write history here. You may claim to be related to Nora, but that doesn't change the fact she was as mad as a convention of hatters and scarey as hell - especially to younger people.

Originally posted by mojoworking
Why so defensive? It seems like you're trying to re-write history here. You may claim to be related to Nora, but that doesn't change the fact she was as mad as a convention of hatters and scarey as hell - especially to younger people. not at all,its just that i already said even her own daughter was scared of her.also i dont have to claim it we are related by blood ,also my mum lives with it everyday....i do not want to re-write history people were asking what happened to nora so i told them thats all......

I can remember pond street nora all to well as my dad use to work for the public health service and every 2 weeks they had to take her for a good clean up and make sure she had a bath and washed her hair she had quite a very bad language problem as well can anybody remember cyril who to sleep in C & A's doorway he use to walk around with his mouth open all the time as if he was yawning when he died they found out that he had left over 3 million pounds can anybody also remember vinegar joe who use to walk to doncaster and back come rain or snow or hot weather.my dad has seen them all in the time he had spent with the public health, alas my dad is dead he could tell you some stories all about the people who they use to fetch for there anually bath in and around sheffield especially the tramps.

Yes I remember Pond St. Nora and that great big nose of hers. Alwas muttering to herself, she should have been an athlete cos she could run like stink.

Message to Porsche Did Nora have a sister called Annie?

Originally posted by vhopkinson
.............


Yes Depoix .you are rite about Russian Edna. I used to work next to the Barly Corn she was always in there. Used to knock about with the Duke of Darnall. She was found murdered in High Hazels. They thought the Duke was to blame I don't know what the outcome was. Maybe someone else knows talking to some old lads tonight and they told me an american soldier was charged with her murder

Originally posted by porsche
her full name was nora kathleen welburne,she married a man called thomas lee they had a baby together a littlle girl called kathleen, she had the baby in 1945 nora was in her early 30s.they split up and nora kept her little girl till she was 10 and she was taken off of her and put in a childrens home then fostered out till she was 18.her daughter knew about nora but because of the stigmar, kathleen didnt contact her mother,she was affraid of her as you all could understand...kathleen met a man and got married and nora saw them together once or twice and would swear at them saying ff........ men ect ect...so they tryed to avoid nora at all costs... my mum kathleen was ashamed to be who she was for a long time and didnt think she was good enough but believe me it doesnt matter where you come from its the person you are inside, and like i was saying you coundnt meet a nicer person (nothing like her mum in tempermant,)if my mum swears i look at her suprised for she hardly swears, kathleen has done well for herself regardless of the past,she has a wonderful caring husband a daughter who thinks the world of her a graddaughter and grandson who adore her....nobody really knows what nora went through and in this day and age there is alot of people like her and we dont really take note but that was in the olden days times have really changed, nora really hated men why only she knows and i bet alot of women might agree,she had a hard life.... SO FOLKS THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO NORA OF PONDSTREET.......from what her daughter recalls anyway ,can anybody fill in the space inbetween????? final thought you cant judge a book by the cover can you?????? nora died at 71 in 1986 in middlewood hospital of cancer and skin cancer we have the death certificate........x

Thank you very much Porsche for this wonderful bit of social history.We often wonder what happens to people and now thanks to you we all now know the truth about what happened to Nora.
I also agree that we cannot choose who our parents are and if they turn out not to be the best in the world so what,we can't take them back and change them can we.Like you say nowadays you see people like Nora everywhere (I now live in London and there are a lot more here) we all need to perhaps talk to them and get to know a little more about them (They may not be the Ogre we think they are).
I am glad to see your mother made a good life for herself and I can see she has a daughter that she must be very proud off.
Once again Thank you Porsche.

I was allways too afraid to get too close to Nora, But my elder sister Karen thats something else entirely.Lets just say at around 13/14 yrs old my sister was a bit wild.Upto all sorts and forever wagging school.Her favourite haunt was Pond St. Bus Station, and her pal was Nora.She used to sit on the bench with her chatting away and smoking fags with her (usually the fags she had nicked from my mom),and allsorts used to find its way from our house to Nora ,the odd food and clothes here and there.Not to mention most of my dads socks as well.Karen was also very defensive of Nora and would stick up for her regularly saying that people didn't know what they were talking about.We were all too scared to even bother to try and find out.Karen was ok with Nora though and the wagger woman left her alone cause she was teriffied of Nora an wouldn't go near her.One day the school called to say Karen had wagged it again and in temper my mum set off for Pond St to get her, any way when she gets there and has a go at Karen, Nora rears up and chases my mum out of Pond St,god did my mum run like the clappers, she never went to get Karen again i can tell you.We all had a good laugh about it.

In fact my dad was only talking about that happening a couple of weeks ago.But now as an adult i look at it all differently.Obivously something has to happen to all of the people who live lives like these,for them to live thier lives under the circumstances in which they do (or did).Its so sad that nothing could be done to help these people have a better quality of life.Thankfully times have changed, people are more tolerrent and more help is available for these unfortunate people. But Porche, never ever be ashamed of your roots,even if Nora had been my mother i would never have been ashamed of her.Yes, she was different, but something really dreadfull must have happened to make her the way she was.It wasn't her fault,it was a set of cicumstances whos culmination led to the way Nora was.She was certainly a pal to my sister for a while anyway.And in my family at least we remember her with a smile on our mouths.

Originally posted by pitsmoorboy
Message to Porsche Did Nora have a sister called Annie? not sure ill have to ask my mum

Originally posted by Guest
Can anybody remember the local character Pond Street Nora in the 1970's? She could often be seen sitting on the benches in the old Pond Street bus station surrounded by all her belongings stuffed in carrier bags. I can remember seeing her for a decade or more then she disappeared. I wonder what became of her.

Mo

Sadly, Pond Street Nora finished up in Middlewood (my wife nursed her for a while). Nora wasn’t a well woman and was forever tapping ciggs off passers by. Youths, male and female use to go to Ponds Street, just to torment her. It got to the stage where Nora would hurl abuse at anyone passing by her.

I remeber the duke as well, just another of the characters who roamed the city in those days, including my Auntie Esther who was on the game and frequented the Black Swan. I introduced her to my future wife who began to really like her despite her being a prostitute. Another one was Russian Edna who was found murdered in Darnall.

I'd never heard of Pond street Nora until a couple of years ago when my mum was recalling the time my Dad had an operation and when he came out of the anesthetic he was calling for her!
Apparently he dreamt about her while he was under!
Mentioned this to the people at work and they all seemed to know of her. I'd like to think people remembered me when I've gone. She sounds a character alright.

Originally posted by pitsmoorboy
Message to Porsche Did Nora have a sister called Annie? not been on here for a while ill have to ask my mum then ill let you know

Originally posted by mr.fogg
Thank you very much Porsche for this wonderful bit of social history.We often wonder what happens to people and now thanks to you we all now know the truth about what happened to Nora.
I also agree that we cannot choose who our parents are and if they turn out not to be the best in the world so what,we can't take them back and change them can we.Like you say nowadays you see people like Nora everywhere (I now live in London and there are a lot more here) we all need to perhaps talk to them and get to know a little more about them (They may not be the Ogre we think they are).
I am glad to see your mother made a good life for herself and I can see she has a daughter that she must be very proud off.
Once again Thank you Porsche. not been on here for ages but would like to catch up with you all thank you for your reply wish a lot more people were like you thanks again

Good to see you back Porsche.Let's hope people see things a little bit differently now.

Originally posted by pitsmoorboy
Message to Porsche Did Nora have a sister called Annie? as far as my mum can remember no

Originally posted by tattoo
In fact my dad was only talking about that happening a couple of weeks ago.But now as an adult i look at it all differently.Obivously something has to happen to all of the people who live lives like these,for them to live thier lives under the circumstances in which they do (or did).Its so sad that nothing could be done to help these people have a better quality of life.Thankfully times have changed, people are more tolerrent and more help is available for these unfortunate people. But Porche, never ever be ashamed of your roots,even if Nora had been my mother i would never have been ashamed of her.Yes, she was different, but something really dreadfull must have happened to make her the way she was.It wasn't her fault,it was a set of cicumstances whos culmination led to the way Nora was.She was certainly a pal to my sister for a while anyway.And in my family at least we remember her with a smile on our mouths. well said thanks for the information

Originally posted by porsche
well said thanks for the information does anybody know the person who painted a murial in marples on fitzalan square it was people from sheffield i believe nora was on it ive been told if you know the person or are that person please let me know thanks

Originally posted by pitsmoorboy
Message to Porsche Did Nora have a sister called Annie? no my mum says she didnt

Originally posted by pitsmoorboy
Message to Porsche Did Nora have a sister called Annie?

Can anybody remember the local character Pond Street Nora in the 1970's? She could often be seen sitting on the benches in the old Pond Street bus station surrounded by all her belongings stuffed in carrier bags. I can remember seeing her for a decade or more then she disappeared. I wonder what became of her.

Mo

I used to go down to Pond Street a lot with my mate Pete Croxton. We often used to sit with Nora and give her the odd ciggy of buy her a cup of coffee. She could certainly shout, although she never scared us and we thought she was a good laugh. Was thinking about her recently and wondered what had happened to her, so glad I found this site. One thing that intrigued me with Nora is something she used to say, ie "You'll not go down Princess Street no more, f---er you". I wonder what she was referring to! Any ideas anyone? Wonder if it had anything to do with the Sheffield Gangs. Anyway, Pete and I thought she was ok.

My nan? Doubt you'll know her. But, her name was Charlotte Goodwin (her maiden name was Carrier) Married me grandad Dennis Goodwin and lived at Attercliffe before moving to the Manor Park in probably 1956/57. Lived there up until they both died about 5/6 years ago.
ChloéHi Chloe I think i knew your granddad do you know if he had brothers Derek ,Jimmy ,sisters Amy Joan i dont recall all of them a big family i thnk he was a miner in his early working life, they lived on Earldom st

Pond Streey Cyril died in a shop doorway in the late seventies and left thousands of pounds in his bank account. I think I read it in the Star years ago. Can anyone else confirm this?

I remember pond st nora. As kids we would torment her and she would chase us, by could she run.

The last I saw of her was in the middlewood mental hospital, around 1981.
Middlewood has now closed.

ah brings back memories.I remember pond street nora,iva wello and of course good old noddy, used to talk to him on the 8 foot near holgate ave.
most of all i miss the hot chestnut stall in the sheffield bus shelter.

Yes I remember her and found her quite scary. When following the Owls, from London games, the train returned from St.Pancras at midnight and in the 60's - maybe still now - the train didn't arrive in Sheffield until after 5am. I then had to walk through Pond Street to get an early bus at High Street and always wanted to be with someone to pass through Flat Street because Nora would be lurking or lying on a bench, and inevitably swearing!

Does anyone remember "ROTHERHAM ROSE" who used to wear a fur coat, she used to walk from rotherham to sheffield and call into the Tinsley hotel for half a bitter while sitting at the side of the fire with steam coming off from her coat.
also "TAB END JOE" he was a about 30ish and walked from sheffield to rotherham, he had a beard and wore a big full length R A F coat.

The Duke Of Darnall..... I was only about 8 when I first saw him directing traffic, to me he was funnier than Charlie Chaplin, and with similar mannerisms.
I don't suppose it was fair to laugh, but being 8 years old in the non politically
correct 1950's I did.

The Duke Of Darnall..... I was only about 8 when I first saw him directing traffic, to me he was funnier than Charlie Chaplin, and with similar mannerisms.
I don't suppose it was fair to laugh, but being 8 years old in the non politically
correct 1950's I did.

I can remember him in the vicinity of the Cutlers' Hall, wearing spats and shouting "Darnall, Darnall that'll do for me", as the tram he needed was coming down Church Street.

In Heeley there used to be bloke called 'The Mad Tricycleist' he used to go about on a three wheeled bike, wearing a beret. He used to shout and bawl at people when going down hill 'The brakes are going, the brakes are going' I remember him well. God knows where he lived or what happened to him :D

her full name was nora kathleen welburne,she married a man called thomas lee they had a baby together a littlle girl called kathleen, she had the baby in 1945 nora was in her early 30s.they split up and nora kept her little girl till she was 10 and she was taken off of her and put in a childrens home then fostered out till she was 18.her daughter knew about nora but because of the stigmar, kathleen didnt contact her mother,she was affraid of her as you all could understand...kathleen met a man and got married and nora saw them together once or twice and would swear at them saying ff........ men ect ect...so they tryed to avoid nora at all costs... my mum kathleen was ashamed to be who she was for a long time and didnt think she was good enough but believe me it doesnt matter where you come from its the person you are inside, and like i was saying you coundnt meet a nicer person (nothing like her mum in tempermant,)if my mum swears i look at her suprised for she hardly swears, kathleen has done well for herself regardless of the past,she has a wonderful caring husband a daughter who thinks the world of her a graddaughter and grandson who adore her....nobody really knows what nora went through and in this day and age there is alot of people like her and we dont really take note but that was in the olden days times have really changed, nora really hated men why only she knows and i bet alot of women might agree,she had a hard life.... SO FOLKS THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO NORA OF PONDSTREET.......from what her daughter recalls anyway ,can anybody fill in the space inbetween????? final thought you cant judge a book by the cover can you?????? nora died at 71 in 1986 in middlewood hospital of cancer and skin cancer we have the death certificate........x

Hi Porsche, I am not as flamboyant as you, only a Fiat500. I have butterflies in my stomach, I visited a spiritualist who said I need to research my family tree and just looked on this by accident. We may be related. Does your mother remember hearing whether she has a half sister and a half brother? I was told my father, Tom Lee (not Thomas) was married to Nora and I had a half sister called Kathleen (I was also told there might have been 2 sisters). Much of the beginning of your story rings true to me. I think my father had been married before and had a son (i think his wife died). After he left Nora he kept his son. My mother moved in with Tom to look after him and his son (she already had 2 sons herself). I came along and the rest is history. My childhood memories of Nora: going to town with Tom and as soon as he heard her voice we had to divert our route through the bus station. If we did see her there was so much verbal abuse. I used to ask why but just told she was ill. Later on, being nosey as children are, I found my fathers army pass book from the war - wife Nora Lee. I summed things up and asked questions and got the answers above. I am sure I once met a sister when I was young (but a cloudy memory). I have heard many amusing stories about Nora (especially her husband drove her mad) and kept quiet but if asked I say Nora was married to my father (what is there to hide). We can't pick the parents we have but they are our parents and we have to live with that fact. Tom died of a heart attack in 1963 aged 53. There you are I found something out today and hopefully you did as well. I have a hard job now of finding something out about my own mother's family.

That is a sad tale and i bet a lot of people are humbled by it. we tend to joke about things when we dont know the full story:|

:help: Does anyone know Porsche? Please ask Porsche to make contact or at least reply via thread.

The Duke Of Darnall..... I was only about 8 when I first saw him directing traffic, to me he was funnier than Charlie Chaplin, and with similar mannerisms.
I don't suppose it was fair to laugh, but being 8 years old in the non politically
correct 1950's I did.

Thanks for that memory. Before 1950 — during the war — there was always a policeman on traffic duty at the junction of Fargate, Leopold Street and Surrey Street. And could he control the taffic! Anyway, the Duke of Darnall, little man kitted out by a city centre tailor and wearing spats and shiny shoes, used to stand behind the policeman and exactly the same gestures with his hands. And yes, he was funnier than Charlie Chaplin.

Does anyone remember the 2 alcholics who used to knock about on the balconies at Sheffield Market drinking strong cider?

Does anyone remember the 2 alcholics who used to knock about on the balconies at Sheffield Market drinking strong cider?


to be fair there were quite a few that used to hang round there, but i remember the skin heads that always stood on the stairs, as they used to watch me and my mates for hours..... buy a bag of salted nuts then stand lobbin then at boys that walked past :hihi:
well i was only a nipper at the time but boy did i have hours of fun with that one.

Does anyone remember the 2 alcholics who used to knock about on the balconies at Sheffield Market drinking strong cider?
Things don`t change. There always seems to be loads of drunks hanging around the stairs to the gallery. I wonder if they`ll move onto the moor when the markets go their?

What about these days? The chunky black guy - often on Fargate (in the coffee shop in Abbey National) wearing WWII German military outfits. He's particularly spiffy in his Luftwaffe ensemble.

Can anybody remember the local character Pond Street Nora in the 1970's? She could often be seen sitting on the benches in the old Pond Street bus station surrounded by all her belongings stuffed in carrier bags. I can remember seeing her for a decade or more then she disappeared. I wonder what became of her.

Mo

I remember her in the 60s and 70s. I regularly saw her in Fitzallen Square when I was working nights on the buses. I always saw in a long dark coat, wearing scruffy white plimsoles and a head scarf. She paced about cigarette in her right hand and supporting her elbow with her left. She always seemed to be around during the time the 11.15s, 11.45s and 12.15s where being whistled off. There was usually a strong presence of transport staff and one or two police at those times and she would hurl abuse at either. She was often heard to recite, "F***ing coppers" and "Transport coat religion." But by and large she was ignored except by youths.

Crookes
Funny you should mention about the white plimsolls. Saw some on sale the other day. 50 years on and we still never call them white plimsolls, we always call them Nora shoes. Funny how things like that stick in the mind.:)

This thread has been quite an amazing one. I too wondered what happened to Nora. When visiting town with my nan (dead now), she used to always find time to sit with Nora, buy her a cuppa and sandwich and give her a packet of cigs. Nora used to sit and chat with her for ages. My Nan said she'd known Nora since before she was "ill" but Nora never seemed to be ill when my Nan was there. Being a kid I couldn't understand this because whenever I saw her when my Nan wasn't there she was always shouting and swearing. Must admit though, Nora was quite a character and I loved her to bits

UK Sentinel
Glad to see someone is carrying on with the thread. Seems to have been quiet for a long time. Did your gran tell you anything else about Nora? I am mostly interested in her daughter. It sure has been an amazing thread especially for me, I am getting closer to finding a half sister.

I can remember another man with a bald head who used to look in all the litter bins in town. Did he have a nick-name?


yes he was called Rommel by some - but an old friend of mine was realted to him and although I cant remember his last name his first name was definately, Sidney.

Think the main difference between these characters is the fact that Nora and Sid were homeless, whereas the Duke of darnall had a little house somewhere off darnall main road.

Does anyone remember the youngish woman from Darnall, who married a really old man ?? seem to remember them getting kicked out of there house at Darnall because of the state of it - they were rehoused on the little lane that sat directly at the back of woodthorpe baths (off Woodrove Avenue) in the very first house - disgusting -she used to walk around with no nickers on etc... and it was obvious she didn't know how to get bathed !! uuuurghh. Cant remember what happened to them ??

Yes I remember Pond Street Nora, we used to go into the toilets on our way home from the night clubs and she used to curse and swear at us. A few years later I went to work at Middlewood Hospital and who should be on the wards but Pond Steet Nora. Once I got to know her she wasn't half as scary as she seemed and I think once she was in Middlewood she would probaly get the right medication for her condition

Russian Edna?
Wasn't she murdered in High Hazels Park in the 1940s?

My mate who Worked at Midland Railway Station say's that you smelt her well before you saw here.:gag:

I also Worked on Midland Station in the 90's and remeber the Mirror Man:D

My mate who Worked at Midland Railway Station say's that you smelt her well before you saw here.:gag:

I also Worked on Midland Station in the 90's and remeber the Mirror Man:D

There was an apocryphal story going round about a young copper who saw Norah drunk and disorderly in Fitzalan Square.
He dragged her down to Pond St. before arresting her as he couldn't spell 'Fitzalan'!

Hi Porsche, I am not as flamboyant as you, only a Fiat500. I have butterflies in my stomach, I visited a spiritualist who said I need to research my family tree and just looked on this by accident. We may be related. Does your mother remember hearing whether she has a half sister and a half brother? I was told my father, Tom Lee (not Thomas) was married to Nora and I had a half sister called Kathleen (I was also told there might have been 2 sisters). Much of the beginning of your story rings true to me. I think my father had been married before and had a son (i think his wife died). After he left Nora he kept his son. My mother moved in with Tom to look after him and his son (she already had 2 sons herself). I came along and the rest is history. My childhood memories of Nora: going to town with Tom and as soon as he heard her voice we had to divert our route through the bus station. If we did see her there was so much verbal abuse. I used to ask why but just told she was ill. Later on, being nosey as children are, I found my fathers army pass book from the war - wife Nora Lee. I summed things up and asked questions and got the answers above. I am sure I once met a sister when I was young (but a cloudy memory). I have heard many amusing stories about Nora (especially her husband drove her mad) and kept quiet but if asked I say Nora was married to my father (what is there to hide). We can't pick the parents we have but they are our parents and we have to live with that fact. Tom died of a heart attack in 1963 aged 53. There you are I found something out today and hopefully you did as well. I have a hard job now of finding something out about my own mother's family.

Just found this thread and have found it absolutely fascinating! Brings back many memories of Nora in the bus station during the late 60s/early 70s - have spoken of her and the other characters many, many times over the years when reminiscing about our teens and early 20s and I'm in my late 50's now - Nora and the others live on through our memories and when people do speak of them it is with great fondness for times gone by :) My kids used to love hearing about these characters and still do. I know people used to pester her and the others but it was never meant nastily. I really do hope that Porsche contacted you. :smile: Like they say, you can't choose your family but times have changed haven't they? People don't tend to keep skeletons in their cupboards like they used to. I'd be chuffed if members of my family had played such a part in Sheffield's history and as such you can be assured they will never be forgotten. Strange isn't it that both you and Porshe used cars for your usernames! All the best!! :thumbsup:

Just found this thread and have found it absolutely fascinating! Brings back many memories of Nora in the bus station during the late 60s/early 70s - have spoken of her and the other characters many, many times over the years when reminiscing about our teens and early 20s and I'm in my late 50's now - Nora and the others live on through our memories and when people do speak of them it is with great fondness for times gone by :) My kids used to love hearing about these characters and still do. I know people used to pester her and the others but it was never meant nastily. I really do hope that Porsche contacted you. :smile: Like they say, you can't choose your family but times have changed haven't they? People don't tend to keep skeletons in their cupboards like they used to. I'd be chuffed if members of my family had played such a part in Sheffield's history and as such you can be assured they will never be forgotten. Strange isn't it that both you and Porshe used cars for your usernames! All the best!! :thumbsup:

Not strange why we both used cars really. I was new to the site when I saw Porsche's thread, you can imagine how excited I felt reading it. I had to pick a name so used a car that was completely opposite to a Porsche and seeing my favourite little car is a Fiat 500 that's what I chose.
To let you know how we have got on: we have exchanged emails and I finally got to meet my sister (Porsche's mother). We have talked about the past and present, it was good. I have still to find a brother Derek Tom Lee and a sister Doreen Ivy Lee (maiden name). These two were born to Tom Lee's previous wife before Norah.
Your phrase on you would be chuffed if members of your family had played a part in Sheffield's history, I assure you at the time you would not have been. Now we look back at these stories with affection but then, the ridicule and humiliation was too much. I was not Norah's daughter but I know the problems she went through. I also had to live with the secret that my father was married to her and abandoned her for whatever reason. In fact I never knew he was married to her until he had died and then found I had two sisters (I already knew about my brother).
Thanks to Sheffield Forum and perhaps Norah's notoriety I found a sister. I hope with help from Sheffield Forum I might find my other sister and brother.

.............


Yes Depoix .you are rite about Russian Edna. I used to work next to the Barly Corn she was always in there. Used to knock about with the Duke of Darnall. She was found murdered in High Hazels. They thought the Duke was to blame I don't know what the outcome was. Maybe someone else knows

I think I wrote something about Russian Edna a while ago. She was murdered in High Hazels Park after being picked up in the Sportsman pub in Carver St but the man, a lorry driver, was only convicted of manslaughter and he was freed about 18 months later.
20 years later in the same pub, another prostitute, Theresa Smith, was taken away by a lorry driver and found murdered near Chesterfield. Quite a coincidence!

Thanks for that memory. Before 1950 — during the war — there was always a policeman on traffic duty at the junction of Fargate, Leopold Street and Surrey Street. And could he control the taffic! Anyway, the Duke of Darnall, little man kitted out by a city centre tailor and wearing spats and shiny shoes, used to stand behind the policeman and exactly the same gestures with his hands. And yes, he was funnier than Charlie Chaplin.

That policeman was PC. Judd. He once stopped a runaway horse and cart in Surrey Street and got a commendation for his action.

There's another character I remember from the 50s. She wore heavy male-up. I think most of it was just flour and she wore bright red lipstick. She always dressed in green; green costume, green hat and gloves.
She came from Rotherham but often she was on the Norton 74 bus from Meadowhead.
I think she was known as the Green Linnet.

I can remember another man with a bald head who used to look in all the litter bins in town. Did he have a nick-name?

if it's the same guy, his nick-name was sub-way cyril,
he ended up dying alone in the doorway of one of the big dept stores on hay-market,.

i recall reading an article in the "star" after his death, turns out his son had been looking for him for 20+ yrs, after "cyril" had gone awol following the premature death of his wife and that his death was even more tragic as he had been a fighter piolet in ww2 and had been awarded the "DFC".
not relly a fitting way for a war hero to pass away.

i can remember nora too, seem to recall one of her chants was " you won't get me up them stairs again charlie cooper", an older work mate of mine at the time always said it was a reference to a police officer who had once arrested her, don't know how true that was though.

Dear Fiat

Hi there and thank you for your reply. I am so glad that you met up with your sister. I can understand how dreadful it must have been for you all at the time and the sadness it must have brought to your lives but I do hope that there is some comfort to you, your sister and the rest of your family that Nora is remembered by many, many people with great fondness. All the best to you and yours and I hope you eventually manage to meet up with the rest of your family. :)

That policeman was PC. Judd. He once stopped a runaway horse and cart in Surrey Street and got a commendation for his action.

I was talking about PC Judd just today! My brother was a bobbie in the early 60's and I'm currently visiting him in Canada, where he's lived for 40 years! We were swapping stories about the old characters of Sheffield.

Is there any pictures of cyril or nora either on internet or in books?

Is there any pictures of cyril or nora either on internet or in books?

I would imagine that even the most serious of Sheffield historical compilers would draw the line at photographing either Norah or Cyril!

I think that would be a pity as they are part of sheffield history and many people remember them.

if it's the same guy, his nick-name was sub-way cyril,
he ended up dying alone in the doorway of one of the big dept stores on hay-market,.

i recall reading an article in the "star" after his death, turns out his son had been looking for him for 20+ yrs, after "cyril" had gone awol following the premature death of his wife and that his death was even more tragic as he had been a fighter piolet in ww2 and had been awarded the "DFC".
not relly a fitting way for a war hero to pass away.

His name was Cyril Griffin, and he had been an electrician at Firth Brown's - he used to work with my father there. Apparently he suffered some sort of breakdown when he lost his wife and his parents died. I didn't realise that he had any children. I used to see him a lot in the early 1970s when I worked at the Midland Bank overlooking Castle Square (now the "Banker's Draft"). He was a gentle soul and although the rougher element would taunt him, bus drivers etc. were kind to him; I would buy him the odd cup of tea from Leeson's machine. It was in December 1976 that Cyril was found dead, apparently from exposure, in the B.H.S. doorway in Haymarket - he was 52.

weve only just caught up with this sight me and my mum and it was quite touching what people thought thanks for your kind words over a tricky tough past me and mum read the end bit of this site and had tears in our eyes thanks again take care.....

weve only just caught up with this sight me and my mum and it was quite touching what people thought thanks for your kind words over a tricky tough past me and mum read the end bit of this site and had tears in our eyes thanks again take care.....

Whatever her faults, and there were many, Sheffield people will remember Norah as a legend in her own lifetime.
She has achieved immortality as one of the city's most memorable characters.

my dad used to work for big ada in the old market he tells us all about her.as for nora ,when we were teenagers we used to talk to her she was ok if people didnt torment her.someone used to leave he a bit of tobaco on the arm of the bench next to 43 jordanthorpe bus stop in pond street.one day we saw this arshole walk up to the bench and blow all the bacca away thinking it was funny.i waited for nora and gave her a couple of cigs,after that i used to give her a couple of cigs if i saw her,god bless nora and i hope the arshole grew up

Can anybody remember the local character Pond Street Nora in the 1970's? She could often be seen sitting on the benches in the old Pond Street bus station surrounded by all her belongings stuffed in carrier bags. I can remember seeing her for a decade or more then she disappeared. I wonder what became of her.

Mo
I was working on the buses and knew Nora well. She wasn't as mad as a lot thought. On Christmas Eve She used to attack the polce box in Fitzaalan Square, next to the G.P.O. she was always arrested but then she always had somewhere to sleep Christmas Eve. and then she had her Christmas dinner.
Tatty Dumps.

if it's the same guy, his nick-name was sub-way cyril,
he ended up dying alone in the doorway of one of the big dept stores on hay-market,.

i recall reading an article in the "star" after his death, turns out his son had been looking for him for 20+ yrs, after "cyril" had gone awol following the premature death of his wife and that his death was even more tragic as he had been a fighter piolet in ww2 and had been awarded the "DFC".
not relly a fitting way for a war hero to pass away.

I remember him well and think that there is some foundation to the 'fighter pilot' story. He used to wear an old RAF greatcoat and often stayed at the Salvation Army Hostel, he was very well spoken. There was no half way house with him as he either had the shortest of short back and sides or hair half way down his back.

I remember Pond Street Nora around 1970. She used to wear a brown overcoat, even in summer, and a headscarf and carry a shopping bag.

The kids used to torment her life out and she would walk through Pond St. waving her index finger shouting:

"I'll f***ing have yer :rant: you'll not f***ing play games wi' me" :rant: yer little b****rds :rant:

Ah! - good old days :gag:

Yes she was a character all right. I left Sheffield in 1966 but have never forgotten Pond Street Nora...if she was in the ladies waiting room I was scared to stay. Looking back I now realise how sad a life she had but things look different when we`re older. She is definitely a piece of our history. And thank you to her family for setting the story straight.

weve only just caught up with this sight me and my mum and it was quite touching what people thought thanks for your kind words over a tricky tough past me and mum read the end bit of this site and had tears in our eyes thanks again take care.....

I've been deeply touched by your story and openness. Hope things are going well for you all.

I have read this thread today along with family. My dad, who used to be a motor fitter with SYPTE (as it was in those days) remembers Nora well and also saw her daughter a couple of times.

He remembers children taunting her and if anyone would laugh at her she would shout loudly. "Get thee sen a brush and gooen sweep up".

He also remembers that she used to stand by a lit bin fire to keep warm in the winter and the police would come and put it out, to encourage her to move on. She slept on the benches in some extreme weather and never appeard to suffer ill effects because of it.

This has been an interesting thread and it has been lovely to read of a family reunited because of it.

Anyone remember Nellie Wellow? She used to live on Donovan Road and once smashed all her doors up for firewood. The council replaced them, and she did the same again.

She was pretty scary when I was a kid.

And there was Don too who lived round there somewhere. He was disabled and rode around in a weird looking trolley/bike thing that he pedalled with his hands. He was always at Wednesday's home matches in the 60's.
It was Ivy Wello who lived on Donavan rd not Nellie

i remember her well after she died there was a lot of rumers about her most made up urban legends one said she went mad after she lost her child and husband
i was told she had a house and after she died the police broke in and found thousands of pounds in cash
the house hadent been lived in for a very long time as since the deaths she slept in pond street and ate out of bins
as kids we said some what i now know was very hateful things to get her to chase us
for that i am truly sorry she dident deserve that on top of all her other troubles
hopefully now she can rest in peace

i remember her well after she died there was a lot of rumers about her most made up urban legends one said she went mad after she lost her child and husband
i was told she had a house and after she died the police broke in and found thousands of pounds in cash
the house hadent been lived in for a very long time as since the deaths she slept in pond street and ate out of bins
as kids we said some what i now know was very hateful things to get her to chase us
for that i am truly sorry she dident deserve that on top of all her other troubles
hopefully now she can rest in peace
I used to listen to the rumours and not to let on that I knew what had really happened to Nora. Sadly no house with a vast amount of money, and she didn't go mad after she lost her child and husband, more the reverse, her mental illness was the cause of her losing her child and husband.

still no matter what the truth nobody should live and die like that in this day and age
R.I.P Nora a Sheffield legend :clap::clap::clap:

hi all my parents was born in 1949 and allways speakabout pond street nora
a very funny and wellknown person i think.

i think she was hit with a bus some body told me that dont know if its true

I don't know about that. The Duke of Darnall was certainly hit by a bus in Pond Street around 1970. I saw that. He was chasing one and another crept up on him. No idea if that was his final curtain or not.

in 1975 nora was to old to have a baby she was old in 1964 do you have the same nora

Certainly not the same one. She used to chase kids around town in the 1960s and looked old then. Mind you it was hard to tell how old she was but she couldn't half go.

There were quite a few street characters around in the 1950s. I know it does not apply to Nora but the war certainly did strange things to some folks. I remberber as a kid seeing ex servicemen selling matches in the street and another chap who sold chestnuts.

The country owed these people and yet still let them down

..........

I remember Pond Street Nora well being a student at the Hallam University between 1970 and 1975 and having to catch the 53 bus at the bottom of Flat Street. I walked past her virtually every day for years. She always seem to occupy the last bus bay at the railway station end on Pond Street its self.

She was harmless really and had a very loud voice and was usually shouting her favourite which was - "f***ing well chuck 'em out of West Bar", which, to anyone reading this and not knowing, refers to the police in the west bar police station!! I don't know what she meant however, but it obviously had some relevance to her.

Does anyone remember the old woman at Woodseats who dressed in short boots, an old coat and a hat pulled down toher ears and she always had an umbrella with which she hit any passers-by shouting "you're a russian spy you, get back to where you came from"!

Or what about Roger who used to sit on the top deck of the bus at the front over the driver and could be seen on many routes, all day, just riding around pretending to steer and operate the gear lever. He loved it and was also harmless.

There were quite a few street characters around in the 1950s. I know it does not apply to Nora but the war certainly did strange things to some folks. I remberber as a kid seeing ex servicemen selling matches in the street and another chap who sold chestnuts.

The country owed these people and yet still let them downif he was the chestnut seller with a pitch outside the penny black,his barrow is in kelham island museum,there was a blind ex serviceman used to stand outside suggs sports on the moor,he sold boot laces and matches,i always saw men putting change in his tray but never taking anything,i suppose they were the lucky ones who came home from the war in one piece,i also remember nora, god bless her..

I rember pondstreet nora heard she ended up in middlewood hospital and do you rember pond street ciril

I remember Pond Street Nora, and CAN confirm that she DID have a change of life baby. I was in ward 26 of the NGH expecting twins in 1975, when Pond Street Nora was brought up to the ward from the ante natal clinic to have a bath because the Docs refused to examine her until she was clean. I was on ward 25 after the birth of my twins when Nora was admitted after the birth of her child, a little girl ,the child was given for adoption. A beautiful child, I remember holding her while the nurses prepared her bottle.:lol: She had beautiful blonde hair, and was a big baby too.

OMG thanks for posting that, wonder what happened to that baby, she would be 23/24 by now so we should all be aware she may read these posts one day.

OMG thanks for posting that, wonder what happened to that baby, she would be 23/24 by now so we should all be aware she may read these posts one day.i dont think that was possible,if you read porche thread Nora died in 1986 age 71 so in 1975 she would have been 60 yrs old :thumbsup:

I can confirm that...there is no record of Norah having another child in 1975. She would have been too old at 60 and she died March 1986.

yes i too can remember Nora, Cyril and "lockjaw" as we used to call him, there was also a guy who we saw regularly round the bramall lane/shoreham st area that we called "boxer" as he would be constantly ducking and dodging as if he was in the ring.

My Mum was in her early 20's during the early 1970's in Sheffield and went through Pond Street on her way to work. She remembers a woman called Ivy Wellingtons who always wore wellies - but cut the toes out in the summer to make peep-toes of them. Apparently she liked to sing "Bells are ringing for me and my girl". She also wore 3 or 4 hats, which she liked to rotate around to have different ones on top. She also swore a lot, and targetted my Mum one day when she saw her carrying a sandwich bag from Davy's, cursing about how "EVERYONE SHOULD GO TO DAVY'S TO GET THEIR BLEEDIN' PORK PIES - LOOK, SHE'S BEEN, SHE'S GOT 'ER BLEEDIN' PORK PIES FROM DAVY'S."

Does anyone else remember her? Mum thinks she was around at the same time as Nora but feels sure it is a different person.

By the way, Mum thinks this chap 'Boxer' lived in flats opposite her office on the end of Campo Lane. Apparently he used to throw imaginary grenades from his balcony and then make "KERPOOF" exploding noises.

Hi Milsy, I remember the person your mum describes, we used to call her wellington annie

hi yes its well known that nora died in middlewood for some time i nursed her she settled and made friends with both staff and residents had a domestic job had money for her fags enough tea to drink as she wanted was clean and no longer deluded could still curse and swear if you crossed her at least the last part of her life found her content and more cared for spent the last years of her life in more comfort than she had had in sheffield city centre

hi yes its well known that nora died in middlewood for some time i nursed her she settled and made friends with both staff and residents had a domestic job had money for her fags enough tea to drink as she wanted was clean and no longer deluded could still curse and swear if you crossed her at least the last part of her life found her content and more cared for spent the last years of her life in more comfort than she had had in sheffield city centre
It's nice to know she ended up in good care, I miss them old sheff chracters

As a bus conductor I once had Ivy Wello on my bus into town and she went through her repertoire of chucking her legs over the seat in front and singing and generally being a nuisance, in Bridge Street everyone got off the bus except Ivy, I said to her this was the termins and she asked me very politely if I would change her a £1 note, I asked her why and she said she didn't want the robbing shop assistants to do her.
Nora in Pond Street I moved up to Inspector and when we went into the Bus Station in the early morning to open up and we spotted Nora asleep on a bench we would lift a bench at the other end of the platform and drop it and then run like mad when she woke up swearing at us.

Though I often heard about a lot of these characters I can't recall seeing any of them with the exception of one and that was a man in the 50s and 60s who I recall may have been ex forces, short cropped hair, he would walk down the road in the centre of town and be casually looking in shop windows and without warning would veer off towards someone shouting at them aggressively and then veer away, very frightening for the person targeted. Does anyone recall him?

yea i remember him come to think of it there was two guys poss same height with bald head and the one im thinking of in the poss late 50/60s wore a r.a.f. long coat and if my mind is correct i heard he was a ace in the war in spitfires and it sent him a bit funny after he came out of the hospital also i was told he was decorated for him being a hero etc.

You are correct, he used to nick a flower from the Peace Gardens, to put in his great coat lapel. Strange how we treat our heros, nothing changes. :(

Can anybody remember the local character Pond Street Nora in the 1970's? She could often be seen sitting on the benches in the old Pond Street bus station surrounded by all her belongings stuffed in carrier bags. I can remember seeing her for a decade or more then she disappeared. I wonder what became of her.

Mo

I worked in Sheffield in the 60's and I too remember Nora. She certainly looked passed child bearing age to me back then. I worked at the Sleep Shop at the time and often used Pond St station. I remember her in 'pumps' and being tall and lean and smoking a lot. I seem to remember seeing her for the last time for me, near the railway station one dark winters night standing in a small que at a food stall I think, getting a cuppa possibly.

I remember her giving me a dirty look as I walked by.

I can't remember seeing her again as I moved to Proctors in the Haymarket for a time.

I have often thought about her and how she ended up.

This site is great for this history. :D:D :D

This part of the Forum is certainly good for history, and post #45 on this thread (written by Nora's granddaughter) gives the facts about Nora. The BMD records confirm that Norah Kathleen Welbourn was born in Sheffield on 6 November 1915. She married Tom Lee in Jan.-Mar. 1942, gave birth to a daughter Kathleen M. Lee in Jul-Sep 1945 and died in March 1986 aged 70.

Hi i remeber pond st nora last time i saw her she was in middlewood hospital

A recent book from 'The Star' called 'Sheffield Folk - there's nowt like 'em' by Bob Horton has a comprehensive section on Sheffield characters including Pond Street Nora and the other usual suspects which is a good read. (Incidentally, I have no connection with this book whatsoever)

Hi i remeber pond st nora last time i saw her she was in middlewood hospital That's right, doger - see post #45 on Page 3 of this thread.

An absolutely increadible thread that brought many memories of my teen years.
Some very moving posts.
Best wishes especially to Porsche and family.

well ive read this thread from start to finish and its took me the good part of 2 hours. ive laughed my head off and cried tears of sadness and found it all very very interesting and eductional. i remember nora and a few others aswell. like the chap who used to ride a honda 50 into the hole in the road and get a box of weetabix out of the top box pour on his milk and sit there to eat it, then put it all away again and go park his bike up somewhere then go back to the hole in the road to sit and watch the world go by. im glad that porshe and fiat 500 found each other, but at the same time feel sad, because my mother has told me that we are related to big ada, but because of the stigma attached my grandma wouldnt say anymore than that. shes now sadly gone so i suppose ill never know. the pond street nora crowed will always be fondley rememberd by me and werent half as frightening as the idiots on the streets now " muggers, junkies and worst still the pc brigade ".

well ive read this thread from start to finish and its took me the good part of 2 hours. ive laughed my head off and cried tears of sadness and found it all very very interesting and eductional. i remember nora and a few others aswell. like the chap who used to ride a honda 50 into the hole in the road and get a box of weetabix out of the top box pour on his milk and sit there to eat it, then put it all away again and go park his bike up somewhere then go back to the hole in the road to sit and watch the world go by. im glad that porshe and fiat 500 found each other, but at the same time feel sad, because my mother has told me that we are related to big ada, but because of the stigma attached my grandma wouldnt say anymore than that. shes now sadly gone so i suppose ill never know. the pond street nora crowed will always be fondley rememberd by me and werent half as frightening as the idiots on the streets now " muggers, junkies and worst still the pc brigade ".

Nice post and i remember the guy with the breakfast kit that he used to pull out of a brown attache case and he usually sat on the benches in the hole towards the Pinstone St end facing the aquarium, most times i walked by, he'd be there!
Sometimes he used to bring an easel and sit there doing a painting and it was rumoured he was a very intelligent fellah...
I seem to remember he had a dark beard and a nick style hat and a big brown mac.

Poor old Nora, I remember whenever I was waiting for the number 41 she was always sat there on the wodden benches. I remember once she just sat shouting "I'll be sat ont f*cking saddle" over and over again. She once shouted at me " Nar then does thar like potatoes and fish or fish and potatoes" . Harmeless old lady I suppose.

I worked on the buses from 1962 to 1965 and saw Nora lots of times but never knew the real story, thanks to Porshe, Fiat 500 and others that knew her, it is nice to see the records set straight, Nora is a Legend. What a wonderful thread this has been.

not at all,its just that i already said even her own daughter was scared of her.also i dont have to claim it we are related by blood ,also my mum lives with it everyday....i do not want to re-write history people were asking what happened to nora so i told them thats all......

People were very ignorant back in the 1960's, today Nora would have been considered mentally ill and would have been given some help I hope. I remember Nora as a child and I was afraid of her because I didnt know no better, today we are a lot better educated to mental health issues. No one is born bad its lifes experiences that sometimes effect people along the way and no one can help who they are related too! How do you think the relatives of these really bad people we hear about everyday on the news feel. Take no notice you cannot help who you are born too!

she happened to live on donnavon road ,parsons cross

i THINK YOU COULD BE MISTAKEN WITH IVY WELLINGTON SHE LIVED ON DONNAVON ABOU HALF WAY UP ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE AND SHE WAS AROUND AT THAT TIME

Does anyone remember pond street nora ,,,