Market Dave - Nutter and man of the people.

[Mamucium Son]

Been a bit down this week as rumours of a demise were abound. The man in question was 'Market Dave'. An absolute legend around the Altrincham area, who has been pushing his scrap laden barrow around the town since I was a kid (at least). Spontaneously breaking into a mad dance in the middle of a duel carriageway, shouting unintelligably (but non aggressively) at the passer by, beating all comers at arm wrestiing on Market day, the lot. The man is now 67 years old, obviously has a mental defficiency, but has never harmed anyone and grafted like a demon for every penny he has. He could uncharitably be called 'a nutter' but, he earns more money than most, and his perpetually shiny shoes suggest a man of pride. He's been known to walk around with 2/3 grand in his pocket from a days work. So, sadly and inevitably, this fabulously colourful character has fallen victim to the ferel youths that plague everywhere these days. He was attacked last week, by a gang, possibly with baseball bats - and left for dead in some bushes not far from his home. He's still in Intensive care in Hope, and police haven't been able to speak to him yet to confirm what happened. The outpouring of empathy from Alty has been marvellous. Dave's a character who it seems everybody knows ... but nobody really knows. I don't think he can hold a conversation at all! Anyway, Dave has 2 facebook groups named after him, and his own 'I've spotted Market Dave' section on Youtube. Some of those videos appear on the Alty messenger site below.

Meanwhile, be interested to hear about any such colourful characters in your part of Manc?

Market Dave Videos (from Messenger Newspapers)

[Phil Blinkhorn]

Fifty years ago in Heaton Moor there was a man of indeterminate age (though probably around 40) known as Springy Jack.

He was always smartly dressed in summer in a tweed jacket, shirt tie and dark trousers which was supplemented in winter by a dark raincoat.

His name came from his peculiar gait and jerky manner. He had a speech defect and continually muttered to himself but was capable of running errands to the local shops where he was well known and well looked after by the shop keepers and populace alike.

Though he came in for the odd cat call from certain local children the thought of harming him would never have been entertained.

It speaks volumes for the way UK society has changed that Market Dave suffered such a violent attack and it also says nothing for the deterrent effect and usefulness of the cameras that abound in British towns that people feel free to carry out such an attack in a town centre.

[Henry Mantell]

Originally Posted by Mamucium Son

The man is now 67 years old, obviously has a mental defficiency, but has never harmed anyone and grafted like a demon for every penny he has. He could uncharitably be called 'a nutter' but, he earns more money than most, and his perpetually shiny shoes suggest a man of pride. He's been known to walk around with 2/3 grand in his pocket from a days work. So, sadly and inevitably, this fabulously colourful character has fallen victim to the ferel youths that plague everywhere these days.

Meanwhile, be interested to hear about any such colourful characters in your part of Manc.

Although not familiar with Market Dave, in suburban blandness and conformity there are such individuals who do no harm and somewhat characteristically are prepared to undertake for profit what no one else would dream of doing.
Nowadays rather than confining people to institutional forms of "care" people who have learning difficulties and other mental health problems are placed in employment.
Few characters like Dave continue but market communities have traditionally provided a friendly setting to tolerate their eccentricities. Dave is exceptional in making money from scrap and pushing this door to door. I haven't seen or heard of a rag/bone or scrap man calling for many decades!
Of course people like this have always been vulnerable to attack from the lower forms of human life; sadly Dave has sustained life threatening head injuries it appears. Let us hope for him and his relatives that he survives and has a form of life which respects him and the affectionate tolerance expressed in Altrincham.
I am sure that there must be one or two like him around Manchester; but perhaps not so hard working or as popular. Let's hope he recovers from the trauma of a very violent attack.

[JAYZS]

Originally Posted by Henry Mantell

I haven't seen or heard of a rag/bone or scrap man calling for many decades!
Of course people like this have always been vulnerable to attack from the lower forms of human life

I still remember my close encounter with a rag bone merchant in the late sixties. Driving my old Viva van up Turncroft Lane in Stockport, a horse drawn rag bone cart emerged from New Zealand Road ( the "leg" of the T ) and made to turn right. Neither the horse, nor its driver had seen me, so they drove into the side of my van. One of the two wooden spars, strapped either side of the horse made a dent along the length of the vehicle. The effect of the horse was far more dramatic: it ran uncontrolled across the road in panic, managing to get over the brick wall in front of one of the terraced houses, with the cart on the pavement, thus straddling the wall. Batteries, old iron and clothes were widely scattered across the scene.
Not my fault of course, but the three pensioner ladies at the bus stop were just worried about the poor horse, and so blamed me: quite erroneously. The driver lost his temper at full volume. When I left the scene the horse was still in the very small front garden. The ragbone man was uninsured and all my attempts to get him to pay for the van damage failed. He later came around to my house on several occasions, quite threateningly insisting I pay the vet's bill. I didn't and he eventually gave up.
He didn't look particularly vulnerable to attack, rather the opposite, he scared the hell out of me.

[James Mellor]

I used to go to school in altrincham about 15 years ago and he was allways pushing his cart around altrincham a proper local legend.

He was a bit scary but only when you got to close to him.

I wish him all the best.