Bit OT.

Paul Sykes was a dreadful man from what I’m told and probably got what he deserved. I particularly loath the way some people lionise him because he managed to write a book, one that basically excused himself and blamed everyone else.

I say he wrote it, he wrote bits of it but it was others who made it moderately readable. He was no thwarted intellectual or a sensitive soul crushed by the brutality of life. He was a violent bully and little more, that’s why boxing suited him as ultimately it allowed him to receive it back but only within the rules.

I personally came across him only once and didn’t like him though he was clearly a man you didn’t want to get on the wrong side of. My brother and his best mate, both coppers knew him well and disliked him intensely though that’s hardly surprising I suppose. I think they dislike him mainly because he cultivated the idea that he was the scourge of the constabulary, when in fact he was fairly easily tamed compared to some and many coppers where not the least bit frightened of him.

I’m sure he had his demons and he wasn’t all bad but why some people chose to worship these kinds of men baffles me. If you really must venerate so called tough guys then at least chose ones who did it with some purpose ie Rocky Turner or similar.

I met him on more than 1 occasion and baring in mind he was then a retired boxer and me n mates where young school kids he use to threaten us summet rotten and cosof his reputation you couldnt go tell ya dad.so i agree 100% vasty

Sounds about his level.

Remember drinking in the black rock back in the days when lad from the pits used to descend on wakey for an all day session . One of the lads with us came up from the toilets looking rather despondent, turns out mr Sykes had taken his shoes off him and old jack came out with a pair that looked like they’d been fished out of the canal . Rather than look for retribution we just fell about the place when this huge scruffy bloke came out of the gents sporting a pair of brand spanking Payton leather shoes and disappeared out of the doors .

Talking of unsavoury people there was a lad who was deaf and dumb called Richard Field who was around at the same time as Sykes, his brother was Ernie Field a pro boxer who once fought for the European Middleweight championship, Mr Sykes always gave Richard a very wide berth with good reason when they were up town on a Friday night, as you say the police found Sykes easily tamed unfortunately that was not the case with Field as I'm sure your brother would testify if he was around at the same time, most Friday nights when he kicked off the meat van as it was affectionally called would roll up with a minimum 8/9 policeman plus a dog for good measure to try and arrest him which I personally witnessed on a couple of occasions which would have been funny had it not been serious, rumour has it, and I say that because if you weren't there and saw it that's all it was, but having been refused to be served in the Talbot & Falcon with the terrific strength he possessed he pulled two of the beer pumps towards him leaving them parallel with the counter egged on by his entourage of hangers on, not a pleasant person when under the influence and honestly made Sykes look like a pussycat.

I left in 1963. Joe Oldroyd was my final form teacher.

That was probably before his time, even Sykes was on the start of his decline but I’m sure older officers will have mentioned him.

My brother always states it’s not the loud ones who are the problem but the sulkers. Those who hold grudges at the merest slight. Them and the real gangsters who strike only when necessary and usually it’s terminal for someone.

Wakefield used to be full of the moody types who you just couldn’t read, especially after a drink. I remember working at the old Asda whose warehouse faced onto the back of the old Speak Easy. We were having a good natured snowball fight with some of the regulars and they were fine. Then securicor arrived to collect the takings and one of the snowballs hit one of them.

He took offence, it was unnecessary as it was just a laugh but not as unnecessary as what came next. Despite wearing a helmet the lead guy from Streethouse put him in hospital with a fractured skull. I’m sure they would have killed him if the Asda manager hadn’t talked them down and we hadn’t manage to drag him in the warehouse. It was 2pm! Absolute nutters yet on the surface ok, they are the dangerous ones.

My brother was there that day and I reckon that’s what made him join up. He wasn’t a hard case or especially brave just a bit stubborn with a tendency not to run even when the odds were overwhelming. That cost me my front tooth on one occasion. I honestly don’t know how he dealt with these people, my nerves would have been shredded. He’s long retired from the front line and thank god for that. With drugs now heavily in the mix I can’t imagine how bad it now is, probably makes Sykes and Field look like reasonable guys.

Your story also demonstrates just how tough you needed to be to be a pub landlord in those days!

The young lads had another away game today other at hopwood collage (rochdale)and got there second win of season winng 34 16,.hopwood where coached by ex bull matt calland i believe.
That 2 wins on tott to start the season off which is a good start.wakey do play in the top division too which is good they are at home to salford next week who are supposed to be handy.

I’m a bit posh now and tend to say I was born in North Thornes.
Obviously there was a very large family on Luppo that everyone knew.
I also lived on Ketty several large families there too. Class act me.

I am posh, from ages 13 I lived on the Barrett estate off Pledwick Lane.

Now bow to me

The lads played there 3rd game of season tonight and 3rd away from home too making the long trip up to barrow and come away with a 36 28 win making it 3 out of 3 wins now.

It was supposed to be a home game, but Barrow requested a switch.

A cynic might suggest it's because they may not want to come down here later in the year, when the comp is already out of their reach.

I had seen it was supposed to be at home but didnt know why it had changed. Least these away games are getting less now for the lads