'Little Jimmy'

My friend Brian in Australia sent me a newspaper cutting recently, which tells us about a bit of a character who used to wander around Coventry. I don't actually remember seeing him, but by the sound of the newspaper story, he must have been well known by many. There's no date, but if this chap was 63 and served in WWII, then I would guess it was probably early 1980s. I thought this might be a good place to share a piece of old news. The photo below the article is Brian's...

Eccentrics and 'tramps' back then were certainly a lot more interesting than today's breed of young men begging in subways. I liked that crazy dude with the mobility scooter the best in the 1980's.

I remember Little Jimmy. As teenagers in the 1970s we often used to see him in town on a Saturday. To be honest - at the time I think we were a bit frightened of him, but he was a lovely chap - always smiling

Wow what a blast from the past! I remember him regularly coming round the market when I worked there as a teenager in the late 70's. He always seemed to be happy.

I remember Little Jimmy, but going on from eccentric Coventry characters, does anyone remember "Happy"? He used to be a sandwich board man advertising Benleys (the shop before Intershop was there and since then, The Litten Tree) He used to shout "Happy! Some on the back! Some on the front!" (This would refer to his sandwich board!) This would be in the 1960's.

You'll find mention of "Happy" and a photo if you follow this link

There was another chap around this time (unless it was also Little Jimmy) who used to wear white gloves and use them to direct the traffic - my father always referred to him as 'sunshine'.

Opposite my Courtaulds office that I had in the late sixties & early seventies which fronted onto the Foleshill Rd, near to the canal bridge, there used to be a large square paved area. I saw a gent, as described by Vtopian, marching as though he was on a parade on an army parade ground. Another member of staff told me that he often did it, as I was to find out time & time again. He was very smartly dressed, maybe a Salvation Army type uniform, along with a flat cap & white gloves. So, I ask the question, was this Jimmy? Whilst we can smile at such a chacacter, which I am sure that I did at the time as I liked him, he is a reminder to me of how small the gap is between the loss of the gentle light of reason. Who knows.

The man wearing the white gloves was not Little Jimmy, it was Happy, I remember them both well.

Thank you for that, mayjan.

You're right mayjan it was Happy, although I stand to be corrected but I think he was also interchangibly called Sunshine. What a pleasant sight he was as he rode around the City centre on his bike, so distinct with his white gloves and straight back waving to pedestrians.

If you look back on this thread (7 Mar 2011) there's a link to info on this subject

Article dated 21 January 1983