THE poem about Paddock Jack made me smile. But I thought he was the creation of a clever poet. Not so. He was, apparently, a real person who died in 1876 aged 61.
David Morley tells me: “I think he may be buried at Longwood but I am not too sure as I cannot find any grave marker there. He may have died a pauper. Apparently, he was well known around the Colne Valley and never wore shoes.
“He was known as Paddock Jack but his proper name was Jack Dyson and he lived at Paddock Head. He made a living selling pegs and pots around the area. He dressed in a frock, as did a lot of people in those days, and had long hair tied in a bun.”
Both David and Mrs Margaret Holmes sent me a copy of this rather marvellous photograph of Jack who was obviously a character of the period. Just one in a long line of characters and eccentrics Huddersfield has seen over the years, such as Itchycoo and Engine George in the 1930s.
Perhaps in 50 years time, people will look back and remember today’s oddballs with similar affection.
