The 'Gentleman Of The Road'

Pete, Thanks for taking the time for the info and the pics. I think the images say it all.

It was getting dark when I got there last night, just a few blurry, sad images.

What more can you say, sad isn’t it, my crappy pictures sum it all up.

Sorry, I’ve been intending to reply since this thread first appeared. I have a client who lives just down the road from matey’s canvass igloo in the woods, I’ve been trying to finish a job so I can get over to Quendon and find out a bit more, hopefully that will be this weekend.
There have been a lot of stories flying around about ‘Flowers’ or ‘Dick’ ever since I’ve been working in the area which is over 30 years now.
He lived in a green canvass igloo in the woods with a permanently burning fire, even in the summer, on which he used to cook and keep warm. The entrance to his little spot consisted of a gate and the entrance was festooned with all sorts of soft toys, plastic flowers and anything he could scrounge. He also had an old table and chairs set out in sight of the road, though I never saw him sitting in it.
Across the road in the lay-by there’s a burger and tea van parked up most days from where he used to get a free breakfast, cup of tea and a chat, I think thats why the Army from Carver used to pull in as well, for the breakfasts and a cup of tea, he didn’t need looking after until it was too late, everyone in the area used to look out for him. Every Christmas a family nearby used to allow him in their house for his annual bath and a bit of Xmas cheer including dinner.
He would walk all the way to Stansted with his old pram and his old dog sitting in it in order to pick up his benefits from the Post Office as well as any goodies he could afford from the garage shop.
What impressed me was the fact that whoever owned the land was prepared to let him stay there all these years and he seemed to be considered with respect by everyone, it’s very sad that he’s gone, I gather that the poor old dog has been taken off to an animal rescue centre, I’m sure he’ll be much loved, but I bet he’s grieving for his master.
I want to get some photos of his place before it’s inevitably vandalised or cleaned up, I’ll go over there within the next few days and try and record some of his life for posterity, was he happy living like that, we’ll probably never know.
There’s another one that’s gone from the area, do you remember the famous knife grinder, he used to live in the woods between Rayne and Smiths Green, though I gather he owned a cottage somewhere near Quendon funnily enough. He used to cycle all over the place on his specially adapted bike, always looking immaculate in a shirt, tie and jacket, though, get too close, and he really stank, but he did a good job and everyone loved him. He always reminded me of the late great actor Michael Bates, both in manner and appearance, I think he succombed in the winter as well.
As far as I know, we still have ‘Bagman’ in the area, complicated story this one and I’ve gone on enough as it is. He walks from Debden Green to Bishops Stortford EVERY day as a pennance to his mother, he lives in a derelict farmhouse thats worth a fortune, have you come across him in your travels anyone. I’ll take questions later as I have to take the dog for a walk.
What a fascinating area I live in, self indulgent and wealthy, but having all these magical characters on our doorstep, I have one living up the road from me here in Braintree, I’ve just seen him, he’s ok.
Is it a sad thing to see all these ‘Men of the Road’, should our society have seen them off, are we neglecting our duties not to wade in and get Social Services involved, are they happy the way they are, I don’t know what to think, what do you reckon.
As Steve says, ‘There but for the Grace of God go I’, it’s true, I’m always on the edge of the ‘real world’, it’s very hard to cope sometimes, that igloo looks inviting during the bad times.

Denis, my mate used to live opposite the Quendon Arms about 18 years ago and you could usually see him pottering around in the wood by the side of the road going into the village. He was certainly part of the local scenery.

Didn’t he used to push a dog around in a pram?

That was him Robbo, I often stopped and passed the time of day with him. He was well versed on current affairs, having a little radio he listened to.

Many thanks for the info you have provided.I did hear at one time that the Army unit at nearby Carver Barracks used to keep an eye on him and provide things for him but maybe that ceased.

It only took me twenty years to learn his name! I did see an Army Land rover parked there several times in the past, but not for the last three to four years I must admit.

When we lived in the West Country, Clevedon to be precise, there was a chap called Bob Trapnell who use to scour the local rubbish bins, dumps and anywhere else looking for odds and sods. His house and garden resembled a rubbish collection depot and on many occasions the local authority would arrange to clear it out and the process would start again.

When the neighbours complained he bought their house off them.

IIRC he was related to the Trapnell family in Weston Super Mare who use to run quite a few of the concessions on the sea front, in particular the donkeys.

His idea of a bath was a dip in the Bristol Channel under Clevedon pier. Sadly he died a few years ago, I believe after being beaten up by a number of brainless morons.

There have been many references to what we called ‘Tramps’ who choose to live off the land or by doing small jobs around the towns and villages.
One of the most well known of these lived in woodland next to the old A11 at Quendon or rather nearer to Rickling Green. Many on the way to Duxford via this route would remember seeing him.
He was known locally as ‘Flowers’ I am sad to say that just over two weeks ago, Dick, or ‘Flowers’ as he was known died from a heart attack brought on by Gangrene which he contracted from Frostbite. This winter has seen the poor old sod off. Locals have raised money for his funeral and a headstone for his grave at Rickling Green Church.

Dick was originally from Nottinghamshire, He was once married. He and his wife moved down here to do agricultural work on local farms, mostly potato lifting. Dick moved on after his wife died and he lived in the woods at Rickling Green, Quendon for more than 40 years. The reports of money in the family is not true.

RIP ‘Flowers’ you will be missed.:(

I think every town must have a character like that…? There was a ‘tramp’ in Glasgow who’d hang around Central Station most days, rumour had it he was a former lawyer from an affluent lifestyle who ‘lost it’ when his wife died. I’m not sure if that was true but it wouldn’t surprise me. Nowt as queer as folk…

Denis, Many thanks for the info you have provided. Up until 5 years ago I travelled the old A11 along that section to get to work every day from 1975, initially on a Puch Maxi moped!, until 2001 and saw this gentleman most days and he would always wave as I passed. He was often pushing a pram with a dog and sometimes with puppies in tow, I did hear at one time that the Army unit at nearby Carver Barracks used to keep an eye on him and provide things for him but maybe that ceased. Until today I did not even know his name or anything else about him but he became part of my daily routine if you like, for a good many years. May he rest in peace and thanks again for the post.:(

All i was trying to say was that Tramps, Hobo’s, homeless people whatever you want to call them are buried in paupers graves in every town and city all over the World every day and know one gives a hoot about them…it’s such a shame most of the time any living family members don’t even know they’ve passed on

Yes, it’s just as you say.

Out of sight, out of mind. 🙁

All i was trying to say was that Tramps, Hobo’s, homeless people whatever you want to call them are buried in paupers graves in every town and city all over the World every day and know one gives a hoot about them…it’s such a shame most of the time any living family members don’t even know they’ve passed on

…now if he’d been one of today’s B grade actors or a pop singer of some sort …you’d have been inundated with replies…

Or, indeed, if he’d been an expat Geordie recovering from life-saving surgery in Australia whom no-one here had ever met other than by way of these forums.

Just saying, like.

You can tell by the number of replies to your thread that he was a nobody …so people don’t give a sh*t about him…now if he’d been one of today’s B grade actors or a pop singer of some sort …you’d have been inundated with replies…it’s a sad World we live in!!!

There but for the Grace of God go i…God bless him