A Local Character I've mentioned my grandfather, briefly, (a self-employed Heaton St Jeweller) who was, apparently, quite a well known character in his day. The poor chap must have had quite a daily challenge - He had an operation on his left leg and the surgeon botched the procedure and severely damaged a main tendon, it was such a bad experience for my grandfather he refused to let surgeons try again to put matters right and his leg was permanently locked in a right angle at the knee forcing him to use a pirate-style wooden peg leg. I can only imagine the challenges each day brought, but it doesn't seem to have held him back too much - he was over 6ft tall and sired 11 children, and regularly scrambled down river-banks during fishing contests at which he was very successful winning many prizes The story goes in order to avoid hitting any passersby with his wooden leg he chose only to walk in the road.
If the stories are true there is not doubt if he was around now he would be a very rich man from the medical negligence claim.
I posted earlier the Top Hat and White Silk Scarf Mystery - after his death I found them in the closet - can't explain why a man in his circumstances would need them, one explanation is he purchased them as a cheaper than hire option for the marriage of his children - Top hat & tails weddings for a guy with a wooden leg - renting a terraced house in Hockley - I don't think so.
Peg.