On a visit to Bradford from his home in Otley, Ernest Hodgson was given a cheery wave by Geoffrey Brindley, who since the 1950s has walked the streets in a brown robe. It prompted Mr Hodgson to recall some of the characters from this city's past (he's been around for more than 90 years, so has come across a few).

He remembers the legendary Kate Kennedy, who was forever appearing in court for drunkenness.

"There was also a man known as Camphor Balls, a door-to-door hawker of mothballs," he writes. "Old Abe was a tramp who because of his unkempt appearance used to frighten females. Salt Jim also sold scouring stones that were used to clean the stone steps of houses. Blind Jack sold and delivered newspapers. In foggy weather people used to tag on to him to help them get home.

"There was also a strong but feeble-minded person known as Freddy Whiskers who could not be trusted with a cut-throat razor.

"Even further back I remember Italians who played barrel organs, or tingalary, or hurdy-gurdy - each area of Bradford had their own names for these things. There were also ice-cream men who pulled a hand cart. Some even had a little monkey on their shoulder dressed in a coat and a fez."

Thanks for those memories, Mr Hodgson, from a time long past.