You could not make it up!

acegardener · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 12

Of all the people past and present who have contributed to the wellbeing of their neighbours or have made generous contributions to the Island, who do they put up a public memorial to? A tramp! that's right a man who decided to opt out of society and his only contribution was to put a drain on the otherwise essential social services who should have really be looking after more worthy causes.

However did this happen, no wonder we are slowly becoming a laughing stock of the mainland. A local mayor was involved in the unveiling, I hope he does not claim expenses for that job. Even a poor old dustman has done more for his community than this man, you don't see them being mentioned in dispatches. I think we should all be shouting for the removal of this memorial as it can only encourage the rest of the great unwashed to come here thinking we are a soft touch.

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EinsteinsGhost · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 92 Location: Ryde

I would like to know as well acegardner. I have to say, without even knowing who you are talking about I find the tone of your message suspect to say the least!

Georgedubya · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 28

I think his name was Serle. He used to "live' in Ryde. Nice, harmless old bloke. Never begged or stole. Died about 20 years ago I think.
"acegardener"..hmmn.. hope you're not who you think you are Mad

Freddie · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 34

ace,
Who would you put up a memorial to then?
He seemed to be a harmless old geezer.
Can't see what the problem is.

EinsteinsGhost · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 92 Location: Ryde

If your right, it sounds like a lovely tribute. I would rather have a tribute to this guy, than some old military fart or politician!

Freddie · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 34

Just read about him on the CP website (so much more NEWS on there than elsewhere) Shocked

.
Reminds me of when I was a kid there used to be an old tramp who lived in a bombed out building.
A group of us found him by accident and to be honest, started taking the mickey out of him.
We were only about 8 or 9 years old but he never really fought back verbally or tried to scare us.
After a while, we became quite friendly and he told us that he was in his own house when it was bombed by the Germans. His wife and two children died and he could not face rebuilding his life without them, so "took to the road".
Very sad.
Very few people nowadays choose such a life, as life on the benefit-go-round is much more acceptable. Rent free accomodation, free gas and electric, no council tax, state benefits for having: kids, plasma screens, iphones, mobility scooters, 2 weeks in Benidorm. Why be a tramp?? (Or work)
Oh BTW..pinch, punch, first day of the month and no return Smile

EinsteinsGhost · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 92 Location: Ryde

Thanks Freedie, will check that out.
As for Acegardner - come on Ace, your silence is deafening!

acegardener · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 12

Isle of Wight forum. Have your say Just as long as it does not upset the regulars who has I seen in another thread flamed the Internet coffee morning for its cliquey regulars.

Well flame on I can take it, but be warned I can also give it. But don't expect smileys.

My point was why waste money on a tramp who gave nothing, what is wrong with remembering a citizen who gave his/her time for the good of the community, perhaps even an old military fart without who you would probably not have the freedom to express your views.

Talibanboyo must should fit in well over here as you sound as daft as the true natives. If you think we are not a laughing stock you might even be on the wrong island, have you checked it is the IW you are living on. The 'boyo' bit gives me the impression you have Welsh connections so I should expect nothing less.

EinsteinsGhost · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 92 Location: Ryde

For goodness sakes Ace! Just confirm who you are talking about! and where is this statue?

acegardener · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 12

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/stone-tribute-to-gentleman-of-road-29493.aspx

Mo · Joined: 07 Oct 2009 Posts: 20

a.g.,
Don't get all paranoid.
You are entitled to your views, just as those who disagree with you are entitled to theirs.
This site is not like the "coffee morning regulars" site as you will see if you look at how anyone who disagrees is treated there, as I have just posted on the VB/VB thread.
The point of forums is that people will often disagree. That doesn't necessarily make one right and the other wrong.
All they are saying here is what have you got against this old man and who would you erect a memorial to in place of the one.
Personally, I think that there are more than enough "memorials" or plaudits handed out to those who do good work and most of those people do not do it for the recognition. They do it because they are decent people.
Look at the example Freddie gave. Would you not agree that that "tramp" was a decent person?

EinsteinsGhost · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 92 Location: Ryde

I have just looked at the County Press report you posted Ace. Being only a recent 'immigrant' to this Island from London, I know nothing of this Guy, but even so I think it is lovely and fitting tribute to an eccentric fellow human being. The article didn't mention cost and reading it, it seemed entirely possible the Sculpture did it for free. I really can't see why such a thing has produced such borderline venom from you. Are you by any chance a regular contributor to the letters pages of The Daily Mail or Express? And by the way, talibanboyo i'm sure can stick up for himself, but your welsh comment was a bit of a cheap dig.

Armin Tamzarian · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

When I read this I hoped it would be of Theodore. I grew up in Ryde and as a kid he was part of the furniture of the town. Big bearded chap, who kept himself to himself and declined offers of assistance. I suspect he would have been the only tramp on the island at the time, or certainly the only one that I was aware of. Of course it is nice to reminisce but tramps just aren't the same today, he was never drunk, never begged or appeared threatening, just a gentle elderly man who was always around and, for some reason, chose to live outside. I support it and will go and have a look.

EinsteinsGhost · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 92 Location: Ryde

Well said Armin.
Actually this whole thread has made me curious to find out more about this guy. It mentions in the CP article that Ace posted that some guy Called Derek Stirman wrote a booklet on him which I would love to get hold of.

Robert · Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 20

I was a policeman in Ryde in the early 70's and often spoke to Theo, although I didn't know his name then. My Uncle Ralph was a tramp in Southampton so I had some sympathy with him. In earlier times Theo used to earn a crust playing the piano in pubs, but eventually he got too dirty and disreputable. I remember on a couple of occasions the night staff at the Royal IOW County Hospital (gone now of course) cleaned him up but he gradually withdrew from people more and more. I don't believe he ever drank, but one of the chip shops would bring him out a bag of chips every night. He never begged but would graciously accept a small gift if offered. Ryde people were actually quite fond of him - he offered a little local colour to the scene.

I don't know why he lived the life he did - I doubt that choice had anything to do with it though.

If you'd like to know what happened to my Uncle Ralph - he was found at the end of a winters night shift by my brother, a Southampton policeman, frozen to death in an abandoned car.