Characters of Brixton....

[newbie]

Sad bump - the woman referred to here - who was called Patricia - apparently died over the Christmas period.

A memorable person, someone you noticed. Before she moved to the Rush Common/Brixton College area I used to see her up in the West End, in the bit from New Oxford St to Holborn mostly. In those days, I'm guessing mid 80s but I'm not very sure, she was a bit better presented that more recently but even so very obviously a bag lady, with stuff in carrier bags that she'd spread all over the pavement and sort back into the bags. Sometimes she had a supermarket trolley, sometimes not. In those days she used to beg occasionally but I don't think I ever saw her begging in Brixton.

RIP Patricia.

 

[Mr Smin]

I'm not sure abput the 'in Brixton' bit but I know that there is a particularly high proportion of people with Mental Health issues in Lambeth and this is because of the unusually high number of places such as the Maudsley, South Western Hospital etc.

The cause and effect might not be that straight forward. One factor is that a number of private sector supported living providers operate services in the borough. If they can't fill their capacity with local people then they 'import' from other areas. This is certainly not the only factor, but I think it has more impact on the number of MH patients migrating to the area and settling than the hospitals have.

 

[SLK]

This thread makes me feel quite sad, and a bit angry. It's like a list of people who have been failed by institutions.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

There are also plenty of people mentioned on this thread who haven't been failed by anyone, and are very much a successful part of the community eg The Mighty Wanderer (incense, acrobatics, education).

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I saw a woman outside H&M the other day (an elderly Asian woman) having a go at everyone. Never seen her before. Is she new?

Also saw a preacher atop a box outside Boots who I've never noticed before. He was very quiet though so I guessed he was new to preaching. I thought of Brian from "Life of Brian"

 

[uk benzo]

Wasn't there a guy that would dress up like a robot in the early 90s? I'm pretty sure I saw him around Coldharbour Lane quite a few times.

What is it about Coldharbour Lane that attracts such eccentric characters?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Wasn't there a guy that would dress up like a robot in the early 90s? I'm pretty sure I saw him around Coldharbour Lane quite a few times.

What is it about Coldharbour Lane that attracts such eccentric characters?

You'll have to ask Editor

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Someone I got to know who lived on the streets came to Brixton because it was safer and more tolerant.

 

[B-Town]

Two totally different characters

a) short skinny rasta guy in string singlet who shouts abuse about white people and batty boys

b) tall dude with shades, cowboy hat, poncho and staff who quietly sits and watches coldharbour lane go by.

I hate (a) why does he get away with shouting racism at everyone whilst we cant go anywhere because we are waiting for a bus. Grrrr. He seems to come and go, I like to think he is the subject to some sort of ASBO not permitting him to go near H&M. I know I wouldnt be allowed to walk round Brixton shouting racist abuse whilst carrying a big stick (which is clearly not a walking stick).

My favourite characters are the one armed pool player in the Hootenanny, who is pretty damn good at pool, and Pete, the poshest Rasta I have ever met!

 

[gabi]

is pete actually a rasta?

hes fucking hilarious tho, agreed

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

My favourite characters are the one armed pool player in the Hootenanny, who is pretty damn good at pool,

oh, I know him, have known him pretty much since the 80s. He used to play in the White Horse.

 

[Rushy]

And "Posh Pete's Bingo" night at Mango. A hilarious shambles.

 

[ash]

Has anyone mentioned the very short older whiteman with a beard, wanders round the market putting his head round doors. He mutters to himself. He looks sad but seems quite cheery is always pleased to see my little girl and says hello to her in his own way.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Pete, the poshest Rasta I have ever met!

He had a great nickname which I'm much irked about because I can't remember it!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I have no idea who this Pete, the Posh Rasta is

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I've remembered! Pub Marley!

 

[leanderman]

Has anyone mentioned the very short older whiteman with a beard, wanders round the market putting his head round doors. He mutters to himself. He looks sad but seems quite cheery is always pleased to see my little girl and says hello to her in his own way.

He sort of greets our children too in the market. Not sure if he says much, if anything.

 

[Plumdaff]

I'm not sure abput the 'in Brixton' bit but I know that there is a particularly high proportion of people with Mental Health issues in Lambeth and this is because of the unusually high number of places such as the Maudsley, South Western Hospital etc.

John, big big biggie, did indeed move to the US but I can't remember whether it was anything to do with religion. He was (still is) a good friend of the ex of a good friend.

Likely to have been true historically and to have led to a higher proportion of people being placed in the area but Lambeth these days continues to have a high proportion of people with mental health issues - as do other areas of London with similar profiles - without any higher levels of NHS provision than anywhere else. I certainly knew of some research that had Lambeth as the area with the highest rates of psychosis on the planet - forget just the UK!

The whys and wherefores (and the politics of how mental health gets funded) could be an endless topic in itself, but poverty, inequality, deprivation, being an ethnic minority in a sometimes very hostile society etc etc. all contribute towards higher rates. There is of course always chicken and egg debates to be had about whether people already having difficulties sometimes gravitate (or are pushed by institutions) into certain areas of major cities and how much living in major cities with all the issues I already raised in our current society creates mental health problems.

But seriously, there is no higher level of NHS service or beds in Brixton for general psychiatric care than anywhere else - in terms of bed occupancy it's in many ways less well-served than other parts of London although because the Maudsley is on the doorstep there are innovative projects and some specialist stuff you don't get elsewhere.

 

[story]

Has anyone mentioned the very short older whiteman with a beard, wanders round the market putting his head round doors. He mutters to himself. He looks sad but seems quite cheery is always pleased to see my little girl and says hello to her in his own way.

He looks as if he ought to be living in the boughs of a large oak tree. There is something very Fey about him.

 

[ash]

I agree he should be living in the faraway tree . I'm sure we could create a Brixton style faraway tree (maybe change the name) with the people mentioned in this thread. Not sure if it would be totally suitable for children though? Yikes said Dick, Suki is wanking at a very frantic pace today if she keeps it up she might just catch the land of 'take what you want before it leaves'. Fanny wonders why the angry pixie is shouting racist abuse at her waving his big stick. I think we could go somewhere with this??

 

[gabi]

I have no idea who this Pete, the Posh Rasta is

surely you know posh pete? regularly to found braying at the bar in hootenanny.. kinda hard not to notice him

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

surely you know posh pete? regularly to found braying at the bar in hootenanny.. kinda hard not to notice him

Don't drink in the GeorgeHobNanny, too far

 

[Thimble Queen]

Has anyone seem Bramwell recently? Otherwise know as 5p man? Not seen him for a while and hope he's ok....

 

[RaverDrew]

Has anyone seem Bramwell recently? Otherwise know as 5p man? Not seen him for a while and hope he's ok....

He's in West Norwood nowadays, I think he got ASBO'd.

 

[Mr Retro]

Someone I got to know who lived on the streets came to Brixton because it was safer and more tolerant.

I think I know who you are talking about Mrs M. Do you know how that person is doing now?

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Last I heard she was doing OK.

 

[Mr Retro]

Good news

 

[gaijingirl]

I've been meaning to ask this for a while.. there's a woman who is often to be found on the stretch between the main Tulse Hill entrance to the park and the parade of shops down at the bottom of Tulse Hill (near the Hootenanny). She is an older lady with greying hair, often erratically dressed and often really in distress. I have stopped to talk to her a few times and she is usually really agitated with a very long story about people being out to get her/bugging her phones/watching her etc. I always wonder who she is, where she lives - she's obviously a neighbour - and why she's wandering the streets like that. She's obviously very unwell. She's been here for at least the last 5 or so years - maybe longer, I've lost track of time.

 

[thriller]

that skinny rasta with his walking stick is a fucking prick. Have heard his racist comments many times. Sometimes trying to flog crap CDs or incense. God knows why he is considered a "character".

 

[thriller]

anyone remember a black man that used to be seen every now and then with a python? He used to stand outside brixton underground station. Think it was mid-early 1990s. Yuck.