Pond Street Nora

[mike-s]

22 hours ago, zakes said:

Pond Street Nora.

In response to some comments on this thread.

 

1. Whilst waiting to catch my bus in Pond Street bus station, I'd often see Nora. Nora was tall, lean and had a large strong prominent nose. I recall she used to wear a brushed woollen fawn coloured coat, with 3 or 4 big round buttons down the front. The coat reached down to shin/calf length. Nora was spindle-legged, and her footwear items were mucky white plimsolls. She also wore a drab flimsy looking headscarf too. I think she was minus her teeth, and she used to draw deeply on her cigarettes.

 

At times, Nora looked very pensive and had spells when she didn't speak. At other times she would mutter away. This, in my opinion is loneliness. I've also witnessed Nora shouting and swearing at high volume. This was usually in response to some unkind remark aimed at her from an uncaring person, who probably had a warm home to go to. I used to get annoyed at people gawping and laughing at Nora. I also got angry with persons who taunted her by calling her names. At times, I challenged individuals about their nasty comments. I was just thankful I wasn't in Nora's situation. People new to Sheffield, often say how welcoming and friendly Sheffielders are. In my opinion there are many Sheffielders who are not very friendly. . . the insular one's, who are generally set in their ways. There's a few of such on Sheffield Forum.

                                                                      

2. There seems to be some confusion on this thread as regard to Cyril. This man in the photo came onto the scene years later, and he is the bloke who was supposed to have been an RAF person in his earlier years. The photo is from 1998, at Castle Square.

Well put mate.

 

 

 

 

 

[Mister M]

22 hours ago, zakes said:

Pond Street Nora.

In response to some comments on this thread.

 

1. Whilst waiting to catch my bus in Pond Street bus station, I'd often see Nora. Nora was tall, lean and had a large strong prominent nose. I recall she used to wear a brushed woollen fawn coloured coat, with 3 or 4 big round buttons down the front. The coat reached down to shin/calf length. Nora was spindle-legged, and her footwear items were mucky white plimsolls. She also wore a drab flimsy looking headscarf too. I think she was minus her teeth, and she used to draw deeply on her cigarettes.

 

At times, Nora looked very pensive and had spells when she didn't speak. At other times she would mutter away. This, in my opinion is loneliness. I've also witnessed Nora shouting and swearing at high volume. This was usually in response to some unkind remark aimed at her from an uncaring person, who probably had a warm home to go to. I used to get annoyed at people gawping and laughing at Nora. I also got angry with persons who taunted her by calling her names. At times, I challenged individuals about their nasty comments. I was just thankful I wasn't in Nora's situation. People new to Sheffield, often say how welcoming and friendly Sheffielders are. In my opinion there are many Sheffielders who are not very friendly. . . the insular one's, who are generally set in their ways. There's a few of such on Sheffield Forum.

                                                                      

2. There seems to be some confusion on this thread as regard to Cyril. This man in the photo came onto the scene years later, and he is the bloke who was supposed to have been an RAF person in his earlier years. The photo is from 1998, at Castle Square.

  

 

 

 

 

I only came to Sheffield in 1991, so have no knowledge of 'Pond Street Nora', but I used to see Cyril around a lot, especially in town - though I have for about 10 years. I'm assuming he's passed away?

Edited November 28, 2018 by Mister M

[darylslinn]

Can anyone remember a lady by the name of Susan who used to hang around Pond Street obsessed with buses.

[TinStar]

After I read this topic before I asked people on my Facebook if they knew who she was. As it is before my time. My friends mum said that she remembers her in the 70's when she used too go to Sheffield. Also the landlord of my pub I go into as well. said that he remembers her from years ago. So sad that she ended up like that. You just wonder how that can happen  but it can.  

 

You do get some characters around Sheffield.  

 

 

I remember being about four, five maybe six years old and with my mum. We were walking near where Roxy's is on the other side of the road. Where that church is. A man had collapsed he was homeless. He'd hit his head badly and there was a lot of blood. My mum who smoked bent down a popped a couple of cigs in his pocket for when he woke up. I just remember when they put him in the ambulance seeing the blood on the pavement where his head had been. Even that young I felt a massive amount of sadness that someones life amounted to nothing. That he ended up like that. 

 

You see so many in Sheffield though. I remember one in particular a big bloke with a beard. He used to wear all his clothes at once. He wore a dirty white knitted jumper. Wellies and carried all ho belongings in a trolley. He used to sit on the Cathedral. He slept on the bench in the courtyard. Nobody went near him because you could smell him a mile away. One morning years ago when I worked down the back of the Cathedral. It was November and it was freezing. I walked past and he was asleep on the bench with all his stuff around him. I thought he was dead. I didn't have a mobile then. So I decided to go to work and come back at dinnertime. If he was still there I'd call someone. As I would know something was wrong. Thankfully he was gone when I returned. I think he was just in a deep sleep. Although I thought to myself afterwards how could anyone sleep peacefully in a cold courtyard on a bench? I suppose he was used to it. 

 

We used to get a lot around the back of the building where I worked at that time. I was washing the dishes one day in the kitchen at the bottom of the building it was offices. The bins were out the back. I remember seeing a lady.  She cannot have been any older than I am now. Maybe she was a bit older. With her two children. At the time I was only an eighteen year old girl and my heart sank. I watched her put a bag in the bin with a pair of trainers in and some other bits. I thought I bet that is all she owns. All her worldly goods in that tatty old carrier bag. She saw me through the window I was going to offer them something but the only thing we had was tea and coffee. After she left I opened the bin and opened the bag and looked closer at the trainers in the bag. They looked years old. I put hem back and closed the lid. A year later I was working someone else near West Street in a sandwich shop. The same little boy I had seen with the lady came in asking for food. I went home that night and cried. 

 

Another time when I worked in the offices I was walking towards the building one morning and I could see something on the floor. I thought it was  a black bag at first. There were bollards outside the building and there was a lady laid up against them asleep. I stepped over her and went into work. I said to the other people there's a woman sleep outside on the pavement is that normal? they said yes she is normally there sometimes asleep. I went outside to see if she was still there an hour later and she'd gone.     

 

 

 

 

[John Ashmore]

I remember Pond Street Nora. Also there was Cyril. He used to come in our fish and chip shop in the Wicker. Usually we used to pass his food through the little window. It’s a shame,  they obviously had some mental issues. As someone else said, he was found dead in British Home Stores shop doorway.

There were only a few people like that in the whole of Sheffield.    Those people really needed help. People were a lot poorer then. It wasn’t a lifestyle choice . Most of the people you see in shop doorways, need to get off there backsides, get rid of their dog and help them selves. 

[TinStar]

On 12/12/2018 at 5:41 PM, John Ashmore said:

I remember Pond Street Nora. Also there was Cyril. He used to come in our fish and chip shop in the Wicker. Usually we used to pass his food through the little window. It’s a shame,  they obviously had some mental issues. As someone else said, he was found dead in British Home Stores shop doorway.

There were only a few people like that in the whole of Sheffield.    Those people really needed help. People were a lot poorer then. It wasn’t a lifestyle choice . Most of the people you see in shop doorways, need to get off there backsides, get rid of their dog and help them selves. 

I don't remember her as I am too too young. But I have asked others who are older who do. Awwwwww that's really sad about him. I have heard about him. I always wonder where his family were? didn't they miss him? I accept that but some of them genually are homeless and it's catch twenty two I am afraid. They cannot get a job without an address. Or cannot get an address without a job. I am sure the majority do not choose to be like that. They have no family or anyone to turn to. I did a sleep out in September 2015 for The Cathedral Archer Project. in Sheffield. I spoke to a lot of them who were with us all night. One male who had been like that for twenty odd years. He fell out with his mother and step father as he didn't like who his mother had married. A few months later he was sleeping rough. It isn't as cut and dried as you like to think or assume. Others their families had sadly lost them years earlier to alcohol and drug addiction. Probably in the rush during the eighties. I don't really see what them having a dog has anything to do with it. If they want to have a dog to keep them company in that situation then that is their choice. As long as it's fed and look after that is all that matters. 

 

The lad who had been like twenty odd years took us for a tour around all the places where they sleep. Cardboard city behind King Street near the markets. One person was asleep with his girlfriend behind a bin and someone peed on them. absolutely disgusting they should have been arrested and convicted for that. Just because these people are homeless they are still people. I disagree that it is a lifestyle choice now. I don't think that those in that position choose or want to be like that. People aren't poor now because the benefits system is a buffer for people to rely on. You are actually better off on benefits than working. You received less years ago. I think the authorities in this country have a lot to answer for. Why are there so many empty council houses yet so many people without a home? so many homeless. So many families in temporary accommodation. I watched a program about the council housing system in Southhampton. The council turned away a homeless man who was washing in a public toilet. Who they said that apparently they couldn't help. Yet could help a unemployed single mother who had a perfectly nice council property. Who wanted to move as she didn't like that her flat/house  was high up. I rest my case that the councils up and down the country are failing those in need. Yet pandering to the whim of selfish, irresponsible, stupid, ungrateful people like this woman who at least should have bee thankful and grateful that she at least had a roof over her head. The councils are all the same no matter where you live. It is an absolute disgrace. Why is the mental health services not helping those who need it? why is the benefits system allowing itself to be exploited? it's maddening the country is a an absolute joke.   

 

 

Edited December 16, 2018 by TinStar
Spelling Error

[beechnut]

It was indeed a shame about Cyril Griffin; he worked at Firth Browns as an electrician but was badly affected when his parents died and somehow became homeless. I used to see him in the early 1970s, in the early mornings when I started work to let cleaners in. I would occasionally chat to him and give him a drink from the machine - "tea with sugar" he would always say.  You tend to think about these people at Christmas - as you say, TriStar, they don't choose to be like that and there must be many on the streets tonight.

[Odie]

On ‎24‎/‎02‎/‎2003 at 11:56, Guest Guest said:

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. Hal. Evans.

he had a girlfriend called Russian Edna ,she got murdered and he was accused but wasn't charged so case went cold

[Odie]

I remember when my mum took us to town,I was about 6yrs old,there were 2 sisters who had a wheelchair and would take it in turns to ride in it up High Street,they were quite large ladies and they would argue about who's turn it was to push,,anyone else remember them?

[St Petre]

14 hours ago, Odie said:

he had a girlfriend called Russian Edna ,she got murdered and he was accused but wasn't charged so case went cold

 

3

I don't know about Russian Edna (found dead in High Hazels park) being the Duke's girlfriend but the case did not go cold as a Darnall lorry driver was convicted for the crime.

Edited January 19, 2019 by St Petre
Add