Stafford - tramptastic?

[gon2seed]

Robert the Russian aka Robert the Robot, oooer I am coming over all nostalgic again, he certainly was a character.

I am fully aware of my own ability to waffle and bore to international standards on subjects Staffordian, and apologise in advance for beginning another tale. If you are bored by my ramblings please do not read on, and imagine the pain of my work colleagues who are unable to escape from my monologues; mind you I often find myself bundled and locked in various cupboards in the firestation when they have had enough; and there was the incident when I got cut off by fire in that disused warehouse and everyones radio wasn't working except mine when I was asking for assistance, ... come to think of it there have been a number of incidents like that over the years!

Anyway Robert ... I actually got to know Robert quite well when I worked for Social Services in the 80's. He was a rather forlorne soul who had built a fantasy world around himself, but what a world. He told me that he was a member of the SS who had an army in Germany comprising of thousands of men and tanks who were waiting on his say so to invade England. He used to wear a German style uniform when I first knew him, complete with a swastika on his arm, and paraded around the town with a Great Dane for company.

I don't know where the Russian tag came from because he was always germanic when I saw him.

Legend has it that Robert used to work in Lotus Shoe factory sweeping up, and that as a simple soul he found himself picked on, and dare I say harrassed, by the predominantly female workforce. This is where Roberts fantasy world had its origins, he used to tell the women that he was visited by robotic space people, and even that he had relations with the females of the species! This was the unlikley origins of the 'Robot' tag. Robert lived with his mum at this time.

Robert lost his job at Lotus and his behaviour became even more bizarre. He wasn't too unkempt at first, but as he aged, he became more dishevelled and downright filthy! Kids picked on him mercilessly and his temper got shorter. He could often be seen ranting in the Market Square, and he even brandished an air pistol at a group of taunting kids on one occaision; this lead to a court appearance.

Robert moved to a property in Sash St in the mid 80's, and I helped him decide what he was going to take with him from his house on North Walls. It was interesting an experience and earned me the admiration of the Borough Housing Officer and a Lunch at the Swan.

I moved to Lancashire shortly after and lost touch with Robert's story, I only know that he is no longer with us.

If you will forgive me a bit of amature psychology, I think Robert created his own fantasy world in order to cope with this one. He was really a lonely chap who sought to gain approval and kudos with his tall tales. I think the world was a richer place for having him, even if he did smell like a midden pit on legs.

If you can all stand it, I will write a bit about 'Poddy the Poacher' next visit.

Found it! Which just goes to show me how much my memory has improved! (And how old he is! this was Jan' 2007! Ed)

 

[Trumpet]

nearly got his name write there coobeastie, its actually Michael Southall, used to live near me. Remember him once having a heated argument with someones groundfloor flat window.

He's been "sober" for a while but is now back on the old wine. Was in the local press about him being barred from every offlicence in staffordshire a couple of years ago.

I remember him being barred from the Bear & Pheasant, then turning up a few nights later with a bunch of daffodils as a peace offering. John the then time landlord (having a bad day) shouted at him to get out and he didn't stop trotting until he was past the friars terrace library buildings.
Poor owd bugger.

 

[Sofa]

I don't know where the Russian tag came from because he was always germanic when I saw him.

Legend has it that Robert used to work in Lotus Shoe factory sweeping up, and that as a simple soul he found himself picked on, and dare I say harrassed, by the predominantly female workforce.

At the Stafford Shoes drop-in day last week two ladies recalled how Rob was known as 'the Russian' because he was always rushing around.

 

[Trumpet]

there is a stair well in the old tesco multi storey that use to have a "band" of tramps (not sure what the collective word is for them)

A bench of tramps ?

 

[zakkwylde87]

What about the guy who looks kind of like a terrorist and has a border collie. He wonders between wildwood and town on a regular basis. I really want to steal his dog as i have a border collie and i like his. But then again he does more walking than me... so thats better for the dog. So i'll let him keep it. For now....

 

[db]

What about the guy who looks kind of like a terrorist and has a border collie. He wonders between wildwood and town on a regular basis. I really want to steal his dog as i have a border collie and i like his. But then again he does more walking than me... so thats better for the dog. So i'll let him keep it. For now....

in what way does he look like a terrorist? if you mean "because he's brown" then you might be on about bobby nat, who some of us went to school with and who is mentioned in this thread, i think!

edit: a few posts above yours, in fact!

 

[Eyriebird]

I think robert the russian has died, the last time i saw him was in St Georges in 1997

A bit late, but Robert died earlier this year (2012) or late last year. A lot of Stafford people went to his funeral ...

 

[Glam]

A bit late, but Robert died earlier this year (2012) or late last year. A lot of Stafford people went to his funeral ...

Hello Eyriebird and welcome to Stafford Forum. I see you've dredged up a few old posts.

 

[Admin]

Hi Eyriebird, welcome to Stafford Forum.

A bit late, but Robert died earlier this year (2012) or late last year. A lot of Stafford people went to his funeral ...

Sorry to hear that, but I suppose it's nice to hear that so many attended his funeral.

 

[Kingy]

As for the old girl with the trolly, she's still around, saw her in town few weeks ago.

We thought that she was a ghost when we first saw her in Sainsbury's and refer to her as the "Headless Trolly Lady". What is her story?

 

[Hothouse Flower]

I don't know how true this is but we were told that trolley lady had tragically lost her baby and had never go over the loss which actually sent her mad.

The trolley was a substitute for a pram. She used to bring her arm up and down as if she was patting a baby.

 

[joshua]

One story i heard was that her son had died whilst on active service and she never got over the loss, the truth however, may just be that she is just another lost, forgotten and ignored soul.

 

[pjy42]

Hi everybody just joined the forum had a quick scoot around the site and found the tramp board.i found it very entertaining.i can remember Robert he used to scare the s**t out of me.My wife as a young girl used to go into the old st johns market and spend her pocket money buying tea and toast for the tramps.I told her that she'll go to heaven for that good deed.
Nice to meet you all.



Admin Edit: Threads merged.

 

[Gramaisc]

Welcome - there's plenty more to interest you on here, I'm sure - try the excellent 'Search' function - and see what you find..

 

[Glam]

I don't know how true this is but we were told that trolley lady had tragically lost her baby and had never go over the loss which actually sent her mad.

The trolley was a substitute for a pram. She used to bring her arm up and down as if she was patting a baby.

That's what we were told at work,she has been a patient at some point or other,no idea when tho. I haven't seen her for yonks tho.

 

[John Marwood]

I am always confused as to the general sympathy given to physical injuries like a leg in plaster but the apparent lack of it for anyone with a brain injury

 

[Glam]

I remember Robert when he was a patient at St.Georges yrs ago. He was a very pleasant man,never any trouble. That could've been down to any medication he was on I suppose. When i was on the domestic staff I was told by a patient, "We won't ever hurt you,cos you feed us,but the nursing staff will get it everytime".

 

[Eyriebird]

Hi Glam ... and everyone else Thanks for the welcome

 

[AA Silencers]

I am always confused as to the general sympathy given to physical injuries like a leg in plaster but the apparent lack of it for anyone with a brain injury

You're probably right there John, it frightens a lot of people but only because they don't always understand.
Glam- if there's still a Doctor at the hospital by the name of Julie Tooth she's as much of a life saver as any brain surgeon or organ transplant surgeon. I'd guess it's a pretty tough job and like John says, it'd be easy to view mental health work differently to 'normal' medical treatment. It still changes people lives though.

 

[Glam]

You're probably right there John, it frightens a lot of people but only because they don't always understand.
Glam- if there's still a Doctor at the hospital by the name of Julie Tooth she's as much of a life saver as any brain surgeon or organ transplant surgeon. I'd guess it's a pretty tough job and like John says, it'd be easy to view mental health work differently to 'normal' medical treatment. It still changes people lives though.

Julie is one of the main Doctors on my ward,known her for yrs,think she's brilliant. I'll tell you what really pisses me off shall I? The way people pull back the moment you say you're from St.Georges. Mental illness isn't something you can catch like chicken pox or the measles.The amount of people who say we aren't a proper hospital is amazing. We are,just in a different way to the DGH.
I've been kicked,punched,had hair pulled out - the list goes on. But I wouldn't swop my job for anything,apart from bed tester at Slumberland,or David Essexes personal dresser!
Moan over - i'll just go n sit quietly in the corner now.