Derek Pearson Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) The Man That Lived In Wigan Toilets Some say he never existed. Some say they'd only seen a fleeting glance of him, swimming off into the distance.... What did he actually do all night? Did anybody ever see him outside the confines of the toilet? Where did he get his hair cut? Several months ago a thread started with a question about this poor chap that was always spotted loitering about the toilets in Wigan. Was he mythical, was he just an all-nighter myth, an urban legend of sorts? I had only ever seen him in the downstairs toilet to the left of the stage. Did his duties require him to patrol all the toilets? I never joined in with the original thread. I kept quiet. I had a guilty secret. I knew somewhere deep within my files, boxes and folders there was photographic evidence of that man - the man they say lived in Wigan toilets. Legal Disclaimer: But let me make this clear, despite what many people may say, I'm not in the habit of going around taking pictures of old blokes in toilets. It was not I that took the photo (honest guv). T'was a friend of mine who shall remain nameless that pressed the shutter on that fateful night. Out of curiosity I once did ask Big Mick why he'd taken that particular shot and his reply made me smile, "Nobody ever took a picture of him". Some viewers may find the image distasteful as it contains elements of toilet debris, filth and evidence of highly unsanitary conditions. Expected and standard conditions of most club toilets then and now eh? derek Edited April 23, 2011 by Derek Pearson 1
Guest martyn Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Cant get the picture mate , I take it this is The Skull / Phantom Janitor we're talking about ?
Derek Pearson Posted February 8, 2011 Author Posted February 8, 2011 just uploaded the incriminating photographic evidence into my Gallery. time for tea derek x
Guest Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 just uploaded the incriminating photographic evidence into my Gallery. time for tea derek x I remember the gentleman now Derek . I rarely visited the traps at The Casino , but when I did , he was there . Being the sociable chap that I am , I always say " hello " or " alright " to people I come in contact with , but as far as I remember , he never said anything or he just grunted in response . If he was paid to keep the traps clean and tidy , I bet his wages were docked every week Malc
Harry Crosby Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 I remember the gentleman now Derek . I rarely visited the traps at The Casino , but when I did , he was there . Being the sociable chap that I am , I always say " hello " or " alright " to people I come in contact with , but as far as I remember , he never said anything or he just grunted in response . If he was paid to keep the traps clean and tidy , I bet his wages were docked every week Malc Derek your sense of humour has allways goit me, what on earth made you take that picture great photo mate, maybe he was an ageing lifeguard, who realised after emigrating from some sunnier climbs looking for work at wigan pier, finally found employment at the biggest expanse of water in wigan. Or maybe he really was one of those sea creatures off DOCTOR WHO
Guest Dave Turner Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Undercover DS ------ Obviously attired to blend in with the surroundings
Pauldonnelly Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Undercover DS ------ Obviously attired to blend in with the surroundings is that Malc Burton coming into the bogs?
KevH Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Did he shake the drips off everyone's ol'man,,or just mine?.I thought it was part of the service.
Guest BigPaul Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Did he shake the drips off everyone's ol'man,,or just mine?.I thought it was part of the service. He was only 18, till he met you in there Put years on him with your incessant chatter, you bugger
Guest Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 is that Malc Burton coming into the bogs? I thought it was our friend , Mr Personality ....... Malc
Guest Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Personally l don't give a damn!! I am trying to fathom what is on the floor ...... Malc
Gilly Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 As i posted before we used to call him the mummy
Alison H Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) just uploaded the incriminating photographic evidence into my Gallery. time for tea derek x Derek I shouldn't really be commenting on this thread for two reasons:- 1. Never went to Wigan 2. Never been in a Gents toilet (not even sneaked a pee ......k, honest even when the queue to the ladies has been as long as the Queue at Wimbledon) but Derek trust you to have this photo in your archives :ohmy: Quality !! P.S. What did you have for your tea x Did he shake the drips off everyone's ol'man,,or just mine?.I thought it was part of the service. :no: x As i posted before we used to call him the mummy Orrrrr I know he looked like Ramesses IV, 2000 years after his death but I would have called him Grandad x Edited February 9, 2011 by Alison H
Guest frenchie Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 All I ca say is .....Derek you find some gems!!!!!!!!!
Guest BigPaul Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 I remember the gentleman now Derek . I rarely visited the traps at The Casino , but when I did , he was there . Being the sociable chap that I am , I always say " hello " or " alright " to people I come in contact with , but as far as I remember , he never said anything or he just grunted in response . If he was paid to keep the traps clean and tidy , I bet his wages were docked every week Malc Has the other guy shite his self Big bulge in back of his pants, round the botty area
Guest martyn Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 (edited) Always had that hankerchief sticking out his pocket too .........Funny thing is the bogs arent how I remember them at all , if thats the door to the main room I had it in my mind that the troughs were on the opposite wall next to the cubicles.........funny how time plays tricks on your mind Edit OK what names was he known by ? Our lot used to call him the phantom , so we have so far 1 The Mummy 2 The Phantom 3The Skull (Stoke lots name for him as I remember ) ANY MORE ????????????? Edited February 10, 2011 by martyn
Guest martyn Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 He'd have had trouble finding mine , I know it used to be a problem for me & I knew where the little fella was hidding !
Guest jerrio Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Maybe a bag of Brown And Clears..... l mostly remember him stood 'outside' the bogs like some sort of Sentry Guard....Tell you what he did f**k all inside the bogs....Can you imagine the amount of silver paper he must have picked up? He should have sent it to Blue Peter he'd have well got a Guide Dog!! (that joke was for the benefit of our older readers ) lol funny
Mach Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Thats a Rare Snap,...to catch him without his Wellys on..
KevH Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 As i posted before we used to call him mummy Strange,thats what he used to call me.
Guest Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Thought he might have called you'Daddy' Kev If " Soulboy " was an artistic representation of WC , why did this man not feature in the traps scene in the film ? Malc
spike1 Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 That old guy was 16 in 73 three Years later this is the effect of too much speed !!!
Derek Pearson Posted February 12, 2011 Author Posted February 12, 2011 Can you imagine the amount of silver paper he must have picked up? Yeah but can you imagine what his shoes must've looked like in the morning? Wading around in a toilet for 8 hours must play havoc with the leather. And can you imagine what they must've smelled like? Oh Lord... And what about his socks..... derek
spike1 Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 Thinking of smell try stale piss sh*te and bile filled vomit with an underlying whiff of brut 33 Ooooh I sound like oz Clark
Guest Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 Yeah but can you imagine what his shoes must've looked like in the morning? Wading around in a toilet for 8 hours must play havoc with the leather. And can you imagine what they must've smelled like? Oh Lord... And what about his socks..... derek After several pairs being ruined , he probably thought f**k this for a game of soldiers , and coated the following ones he wore for work extensively in dubbing Malc
Guest Roddy Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 looks like he would fit right in with todays crowd :-)
John Elias Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 any chance of a date of this photo plz....probably earlier years?
Guest Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 any chance of a date of this photo plz....probably earlier years? Late '75 / early '76 at a guess , as the tiles are still on the walls . Malc
Chris L Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 (edited) I was once told a story that there used to be a bloke who went to the Casino who walked around with a telephone receiver in his hand and would pounce on the unsuspecting and say "It's for you !!".......true or false.......... Edited April 22, 2011 by Chris L
Guest Dave Turner Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 I was once told a story that there used to be a bloke who went to the Casino who walked around with a telephone receiver in his hand and pounce on the unsuspecting and say "It's for you !!".......true or false.......... Bet he shit himself when Tony & Tyrone came on
Chris L Posted April 23, 2011 Posted April 23, 2011 definately true Chris i think it could have been Dave Cooper (originally Leeds) but more known in the Gloucester area, this game originated on one of my coaches on the way to the Cats ..................as did many other stupid pranks!!! Steve Found this, dating from July, 2001 (thank heavens for the internet !!) that bloke was Tommy Dillon from Warrington......one of our mob. He got busted for possession of stolen goods (the phone) when we were on a coach on our way to Cleethorpes.
Chris L Posted April 23, 2011 Posted April 23, 2011 Found this, dating from July, 2001 (thank heavens for the internet !!) that bloke was Tommy Dillon from Warrington......one of our mob. He got busted for possession of stolen goods (the phone) when we were on a coach on our way to Cleethorpes. Here's a another Wigan nutcase story........................... I think this could be the one used to appear at wigan with paraphanallia such as huge water shooting sunflowers, stuffed parrots and he once interrupted a massive argument between me and my girlfriend at the time by sitting in between us with a plastic pineapple asking her if she had seen his coconuts.
John Elias Posted April 23, 2011 Posted April 23, 2011 Here's a another Wigan nutcase story........................... I think this could be the one used to appear at wigan with paraphanallia such as huge water shooting sunflowers, stuffed parrots and he once interrupted a massive argument between me and my girlfriend at the time by sitting in between us with a plastic pineapple asking her if she had seen his coconuts. No melons mentioned then?
Derek Pearson Posted April 23, 2011 Author Posted April 23, 2011 (edited) As far as I know the photo was probably taken late 1970's/early 1980's. And If we call it 1980 it makes it so much easier to follow my ramblings.... The old bloke in the toilet looks to be a minimum of 70 years old (then) which means he was born in 1910 or thereabouts... .................................................................................................... History Lesson Number 1: "The Empress Ballroom on Station Road opened on November 1st 1916. It had a dancing area of 71 x 54 feet and a spectator gallery and supper room. In 1926 a new annex was built called the Pallais de Dance. The ballroom was originally owned by the Atherton Brothers. In 1965 it became known as the Wigan Casino. It was finally demolished in 1984". .................................................................................................... When he was about 20 he started work at The Empress Ballroom as a Junior Toilet Attendant. So we're now up to 1930. By the time he was 40- ish he'd been promoted to Senior Toilet Attendant with responsibility to manage all the toilet areas within the building. We're now in the 1950's the era of the Big Bands. He was probably at his peak then in terms of responsibilities and his standing within the club. He still gained respect from the patrons and probably supplemented his wage with generous tips. He always wore a maroon coloured velvet jacket and was never seen without his bowtie on. ...................................................................................................................................... Washroom Attendant from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: A washroom attendant, restroom attendant or bathroom attendant, is a housekeeper for a public toilet. They maintain and clean the facilities, ensuring that toilet paper, soap, paper towels, and other necessary items are kept stocked. Some washroom attendants also provide services to the patrons, and keep good order by preventing drug-taking and fights. Premium services: The attendant may turn on the tap and provide soap and towels. At the attendant's work station, an assortment of toiletries may be available for sale or free such as perfume/cologne, mouthwash, chewing gum or cigarettes. .............................................................................................................................................................. As he nudged 50 years of age things started to decline as the era they call the sixties beckoned. Gone was the respect. And Tips were no more as The Rolling Stones played on the famous stage. So by the time the infamous all-nighters started in 1973 he was already aged mid sixties. And his trusty highly polished leather shoes which had served him well for 20 odd years finally succumbed to the rigours of late seventies toilets. Whilst looking for background information of the old Empress Ballroom I stumbled across this superb website which lists and discusses old long gone venues and clubs from the 1950's - 1960's within the central Lancashire area. Packed with photos too. https://www.lankybeat.com/map.html Did you know there used to be a Casino Club in Leigh and even a Casino Club in Westhoughton..... derek Edited April 23, 2011 by Derek Pearson
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