Forum Topic

Does anybody remember "Chicken George"?

Over on the Chiswick W4 Forum there has been some discussion about old local characters from the recent past.  One that many of us remember from the 1970's and 1980's is an old tramp who was knicknamed "Chicken George".Chicken George was a middle-aged black guy who used to ride around on a bike with an old supermarket trolley rigged up behind as a sort of trailer.  For years he was an eccentric part of the community, then, one day in the mid 1980's, Chicken George seemed to vanish.  Some believe that the Brentford and Chiswick Times reported his murder, others say that he was killed in a road accident at the Chiswick Flyover.  I have a distant memory that his bike and trolley were left discarded for some time after in the Power Road area, but I could be wrong. Can anyone on the Brentford Forum help solve this little local mystery.  Do you remember Chicken George?  Did he go to Brentford frequently?

Cllr. Adrian Lee ● 6967d12 Comments

Have you been able to trace any of George's relatives yet, Debbie?  I would be fascinated to hear any details that you may have.

Cllr. Adrian Lee ● 6964d

Great old character!!Always remember him cycling along the High Street with his shopping trolley/trailer behind him.On a good day he would always have a great cigar stuck between his lips as he peddled along without a care in the world.I don't remember him ever living under the flyover but recall that he spent sometime living in one of the old shops at Brentford Market opposite Stile Hall Gdns where one day he set fire to the place (accidental obviously) & the young recruit from Chiswick fire station was absolutely petrified as he was detailed to enter the building to put the fire out or speak to George ( a wind up by his colleagues).

Kevin Farnan ● 6965d

Does anybody know what happened to him?

Cllr. Adrian Lee ● 6966d

He used to move around a bit sometimes by the chiswick roundabout but mostly around the globe pub sometimes we used to invite him into the globe for a quich half

Graeme Perkins ● 6966d

I seem to remember seeing him around the end towards the Gunnersbury  roundabout.Perhaps Chiswick Local Studies Department have his death indexed in the B & C Times.

Neil Chippendale ● 6966d

Neil,That's interesting! So whereabouts did Chicken George reside under the M4?  Was it anywhere near where John/Spooner lives today?

Cllr. Adrian Lee ● 6966d

I recall reading an article about his death in the |Brentford & Chiswick..and my memory suggests that he lived in Dukes Avenue W4!

Jim Lawes ● 6966d

He was a local charcter for years. I remember him living under the M4 for years.Cant remeber what happened to him though.

Neil Chippendale ● 6966d

Debbie,Chicken George has family still around here?  I am astonished.  I always thought that the poor old guy was totally alone in the world.  I wonder if this person has any photos of George? Or could tell us about who he was and what brought him to living rough?  Most importantly, what happened to the old chap?  The stories of his murder as terrible if true.Thank you all for your recollections.  Keep them coming!

Cllr. Adrian Lee ● 6967d

i remember chicken george i also heard that he was very rich i know a family member of his i will ask and find out for you Debbie

Debbie Dewar ● 6967d

Yes I remember "Chicken George" he was always getting stopped by the police for having his trolley over loaded with junk! but I don't know what happened to him I think he must be dead by now as he was so old even back in the 70's

Edward Fitzgerald ● 6967d

I have spoken to a couple of people over the years about this guy and everyone I spoke to says that he was a quite a rich man and that his life went belly up when his marriage ended and he chose (or perhaps it chose him)a life of vagrancy,though how much of this is true is in the 'local mythology'of this parish. He almost seemed like a character from one of Robert Rankin's books,and was perhaps the inspiration for the character of Vile Tony who,if I remember right,was always dirty and dischevelled. He certainly seemed like a happy and peaceful chap and no-one that I spoke to had a bad word for him. RIP

Keith Iddon ● 6967d