Newspaper vendors etc.

[West Ender]

I worked in Blackburn for a short while when I first left school (1959) and I was always amused by the 2 paper-sellers who stood on either side of Church St. when I was on my way home. The one who sold the Evening Telegraph would shout, "He'e He'gra'.", as loud as he could while the other one would bellow, "He'e Newzzz". They would get louder and louder, trying to shout each other down and glaring at each other whenever one of the made a sale.

They were always there, no matter what the weather. In the Winter they both had at least 2 overcoats on and they would stamp their feet, in the cold, to keep their circulation going. I have a vivid memory of the Salvation Army band, outside Boots Chemists at Christmas, playing "Silent Night" while the news vendors bawled their wares at the tops of their voices at every musical "rest".

I also remember the man who sold hot chestnuts in the Winter, from a cart that carried a little iron, pot-bellied stove with a tall chimney. He stood outside Woolworths in Blackburn and he did a roaring trade on cold days. I've had roasted chestnuts since, but they never tasted quite as good as the ones he pulled out of his little furnace.

 

[katex]

I worked in Blackburn for a short while when I first left school (1959) and I was always amused by the 2 paper-sellers who stood on either side of Church St. when I was on my way home. The one who sold the Evening Telegraph would shout, "He'e He'gra'.", as loud as he could while the other one would bellow, "He'e Newzzz". They would get louder and louder, trying to shout each other down and glaring at each other whenever one of the made a sale.

Here comes the biggest conversation stopper ever.

Vocal chords are just like any muscle in yer' body .. that's why you do scales whilst having singing lessons, so that when you sing a vowel for instance the muscles in the vocal chord become strong for this particular sound. Remember my singing teacher telling me about Paper sellers .. they say it over and over again... the same words, so that that the muscles become atuned to these particular words, and therefore would be able to hear their calls for miles around. OK .. boring, boring .. but we remember certain bits of knowledge in our lifes don't we ?

Can't remember the Chesnut sellers, but sounds magical. Would make a good Christmas Card picture West Ender.

 

[jamesicus]

.......... I worked in Blackburn for a short while when I first left school (1959) and I was always amused by the 2 paper-sellers who stood on either side of Church St. when I was on my way home ..........

We had a somewhat smaller population in Burnley and so we only had one downtown street corner newspaper vendor. His spot was at the corner of Manchester Road and St. James's Street by the Old Red Lion. Like the ones you recall, he was always there in the evening no matter what the weather, bellowing out his interpretation of the headlines. The same vendor was there for many years -- during the war he carried a black-out flashlight (blackened lense with a horizontal slit) so that he could show purchasers the headlines and make change.

 

[WillowTheWhisp]

I remember newspaper sellers who sold the "He'en He'grah" and the "Laaaaah pohhhhhhhhh!" It used to fascinate me as a child because I thought it was some sort of mystical foreign language. I was most disappointed when my Dad explained.

 

[katex]

I remember newspaper sellers who sold the "He'en He'grah" and the "Laaaaah pohhhhhhhhh!" It used to fascinate me as a child because I thought it was some sort of mystical foreign language. I was most disappointed when my Dad explained.

Did he wear the overcoat with the string as a belt Willow ? Oh, and cut off gloves. Eh, and the candle dripping from his nose in cold weather ? ..

Now I'm going to get in trouble for tarring all Paper Sellers the same.

 

[cashman]

Did he wear the overcoat with the string as a belt Willow ? Oh, and cut off gloves. Eh, and the candle dripping from his nose in cold weather ? ..

Now I'm going to get in trouble for tarring all Paper Sellers the same.

that was snotty sid katex, the guy who used to stand outside redmans on sat nights selling the sports pink. dont remember him.

 

[steeljack]

I seem to remember a guy on the Boulevard (Blackburn Bus Station) doing the same

 

[katex]

that was snotty sid katex, the guy who used to stand outside redmans on sat nights selling the sports pink. dont remember him.

Yes, I do remember him LOL .. good to know we moved around in the same circles ...

 

[Wynonie Harris]

I remember Sid! Little bloke in a flat cap. Liked to have a pint in the Derby. Something of a racing tipster as well, if I recall. I can hear him now "Telegra-a-a-ph! Fina-a-l!"

 

[jamesicus]

Did he wear the overcoat with the string as a belt Willow ? Oh, and cut off gloves. Eh, and the candle dripping from his nose in cold weather ? ..........

Ah, good remembrance there! Yes, as I recall, that pretty much fits our Burnley newspaper vendor to a T -- and of course the bright shiny spot on the lower right sleeve of his overcoat from the constant candle wiping!

 

[maxwell silver]

I remember Sid! Little bloke in a flat cap. Liked to have a pint in the Derby. Something of a racing tipster as well, if I recall. I can hear him now "Telegra-a-a-ph! Fina-a-l!"

Would it be the same Sid who also drank in the Pickwick?Always said "eh,eh" after every sentence,and had a disinfectant smell about him.Flat cap,racing...i'm sure it the same Sid.

 

[Wynonie Harris]

That's the feller!

 

[keith]

I remember little spencer on the steps of the kings hall cinema selling telegraphs every night also a chap in redmans shop doorway which is now the bright furniture shop facing the town hall

 

[WillowTheWhisp]

Did he wear the overcoat with the string as a belt Willow ? Oh, and cut off gloves. Eh, and the candle dripping from his nose in cold weather ? ..

Now I'm going to get in trouble for tarring all Paper Sellers the same.

That was him! Standing outside Redmans like Cashman said, opposite the Town Hall.

 

[cashman]

Would it be the same Sid who also drank in the Pickwick?Always said "eh,eh" after every sentence,and had a disinfectant smell about him.Flat cap,racing...i'm sure it the same Sid.

he also was a bookies runner, and one day he did.

 

[les stewart]

I remember Sid coming in the Castle one night, his face a real mess, he got lots of sympathy from those who thought he had been beaten up. Turns out the wind had got into his empty bag and blown him over.

 

[Ianto.W.]

Would it be the same Sid who also drank in the Pickwick?Always said "eh,eh" after every sentence,and had a disinfectant smell about him.Flat cap,racing...i'm sure it the same Sid.

That disinfectant smell was Snuff, Sid took it by the boxfull he was the one mentioned he stood in Redmans doorhole or the Yorkshire Bank depending on the time of day, he sold both the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and the Last Sports (The Pink) "Last Poo-oots"

 

[cashman]

was sid the guy who always wore his coat cos he had no sleeves in his jacket? or was that someone else?

 

[Mancie]

That disinfectant smell was Snuff, Sid took it by the boxfull he was the one mentioned he stood in Redmans doorhole or the Yorkshire Bank depending on the time of day, he sold both the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and the Last Sports (The Pink) "Last Poo-oots"

Yep that's Sid.. we used "Sid Snuff" as his nickname...he once showed me a bet he'd placed saying he'd it it off.. it named about 10 horses 1p e.w doubles trebles...all sorts.. topped up to about 60p in 1p bets! he told me he'd scooped at least a fiver ...eh! eh!

 

[Ianto.W.]

Yep that's Sid.. we used "Sid Snuff" as his nickname...he once showed me a bet he'd placed saying he'd it it off.. it named about 10 horses 1p e.w doubles trebles...all sorts.. topped up to about 60p in 1p bets! he told me he'd scooped at least a fiver ...eh! eh!

That was a fortune to Sid, Mancie, think how much he made in comission on the papers he sold, he was self employed no 'nash' in Sid's day, He also told me the taxman was always on his case, and the ex for maintenance I think they sent him down for a month for non payment, but for all that he was one lifes sadly missing characters.

cashman. was sid the guy who always wore his coat cos he had no sleeves in his jacket? or was that someone else?

That was Sid cashy, he cut the sleeves out so he could move his arms faster and it was less cumbersome holding a sheaf of papers and collecting the money, the pockets of his coat being lower made the job easier.