'Rag Bone!' The Norris family street cry in Hull falls silent.
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- čas přidán 13. 06. 2022
- Almost 40 years ago 19-year-old George Norris followed in his father’s footsteps working in the Rag and Bone trade totting for scrap on the streets of Hull. Today, George is back out again totting with his 81-year-old father who has been a Rag and Bone man for 68 years.
I photographed George back in 1983 and again in May 2022. Some images easily echo the past while others are new given the dramatic changes in the physical and economic landscape. The horse and cart replaced with a pick-up, the Victorian housing demolished and replaced with new estates and today neither clothing or furniture are collected, they have no value.
But it’s the end of the line for the Norris family and their involvement in the scrap trade. When George Norris Snr passes, and he’s adamant he won’t stop until he dies, no-one in the family will be carrying on the work.
I am 28 years old and been doing this since the age of 6, the sound of Rag and Bone round my streets wont die until i do
That's great to hear. May it continue for many years to come.
God bless you son long may it last👍
Beautifully shot and directed - the sadness and the happiness in every face, the hard work to make a few pieces of silver... People pulling themselves out of poverty is always admirable, beyond admirable even.
Many thanks. I am more of a photographer than film maker so your comment is a most welcome compliment. If you like faces with character you might like my set of pix just published by Cafe Royal Books taken in the Star and Garter. bit.ly/3PR7sv5
@@russellboycephotographer brilliant video and what a dude you’re dad is!!
FairPlay to him he didn’t complain about anything and he had a
good Nature about him and that’s how he made a lot friends who got scarp off years ago like the said everyone knows his dad !!
God bless you all this video is a very good worthy watch because you don’t see things like that anymore!!
Wonderful presentation with beautiful photographs of a world sadly missed and fondly remembered as a child of the 70's, much warmth with a tinge of sadness of older days of the ultimate recycling hero of our streets , God bless you both and thank you for the memories.
so glad you enjoyed the memories
Happy days, the world is now broken such a shame, well done to you both.
i hope we still have a chance to fix it and glad you like the story
Last week while working in Enfield i heard a rag n bone shouting any ole iron,lovely to hear
I wish this film was an hour long . Absolutely brilliant 👍👍👍
Glad you like it = i worried that it was too long! seems I was wrong
@@russellboycephotographer Wasn't long enough mate, great stuff 👍
Wow that was absolutely fantastic to watch. I always remember the rag and bone man shouting out ANY OLD IRN and ringing his bell in the 70s. I do miss that lost time. Wonderful video buddie I wish you and your dad good health ❤
Thanks for taking the time to watch and I am glad you enjoyed it
As a man of 63 years young and from grimsby this has just rekindled my youth listening out for the ragbone cry and the sound of horses hoofs every week just a brilliant story and the best of british to then both.
Glad it brought back some fond memories
I grew up in Grantham, there was a small traveller camp on the hill as you come from the A1, there was a man with horse and cart. He used to go all over. We always looked forward to seeing him and his horse. Back when travellers weren't so disliked. It's bought back some memories hearing the rag and bone cry. 👍
Glad I was able to bring back some find memories. George Norris is actually shooting a long term portrait project on travellers - you can see his work on his Instagram roving_eye_photographer
@@russellboycephotographer I'll look at that, I come from traveling toots, my father was born to a traveler in Newark but he never had anything to do with him. My dad didn't like travelers too much. He had a tough childhood. But I loved to see them all. Still love to see the now tops about. Thanks buddy. All the nest
Jeez this takes me back, I remember hearing them coming up the street as a kid back in the 90s
that call 'Rag Bone!' exists in your head forever methinks :)
Any REEEEEEG N BOOOOONE. Sounds of my childhood in Hull.Happy days. Loved this vid and the photos.
so glad you liked this - thanks for taking the time to comment
really enjoyed this look into the past of times gone by never to be seen again
So glad you enjoyed this story. it seems to have struck a chord with so many
I've been one, made a living in Dublin back in the day. Horse and van's and truck.
hard work for sure
@@russellboycephotographer work but pleasure also. Just you your horse and the road. A partner but no boss. 🤠🐴☘️
Been doing scrap 30 years respect to the old school
Brilliant video.
so glad you like it, thanks
Remember those days great video wonderful memories 💕
Wow took me right back to my childhood, thank you 😊
glad you like and thanks for taking the time to comment - you might also like this book of my pictures from the Star & Garter just out bit.ly/3PR7sv5
I remember young George as a kid. A couple of years younger than me and my mates but a lovely lad.
honest and friendly and great to photograph too, he just got on with it and ignored me as if i wasn't there so i think that's why the pictures work so well!
Time is a flat circle. Great film, you've got a real eye for character & story
thanks and glad you enjoyed the story
Top Man George Norris Senior & His Son....
Hull n proud
never a truer word written...
Absolutely fantastic best off health and happiness to you and your dad 👍👍
so glad you like it
Great video brings back Great memories just behind the post office corner Madley st and Hessle rd Bath house .I remember lots all good 👍
Thanks and glad it brought back fond memories
I’m a retired photographer and really appreciate seeing such a wonderful video!!! So full of atmosphere and stunning images!! I grew up in Manchester and remember our Rag Bone man, cobbled streets, and dairy bottling plant just round the corner! Terraced houses and mum rubbing donkey stone on front door step! All children playing out and neighbours chatting. Metal dust bins. Coal deliveries tipped down hole into your cellar! Happy Days until council demolished everything in 60’s to build ugly concrete shopping centre! Thankyou so much for putting this on CZcams!
thanks for such warm comments from a fellow professional
George is a true gent and a great photographer. If you ever wanted a definition of Hull it'll be him.
Salt of the earth
too true
Fantastic piece of work. Really well done 👍
Thanks - glad you like it
Mam had a twin tub and it used to literally take off in the kitchen! Wonderful memories of my childhood.. Smashing video,
From a West Hull Girl... But older now!
yeah mine did too, lots of noise and shaking. Glad you like the story
As an Australian tourist I visited Hull in 2019. It appeared to be a poor place with a very down trodden atmosphere. Of course that was a fleeting visit but I have seen a lot of towns in the UK and Hull definitely appeared to be struggling.
They had spent a load of money making Hull nicer by then 🤣
Growing up the call was “Any old scrap and iron “ this has brought such fond memories back
Glad i bought these memories back
"Different nationalities" Indeed. Scrap men around where we live are from Romania I think.
Brought back a memory or two. Can't remember when our local rag and bone man disappeared but it must have been by the mid nineties. Miss it, happier times now you just get the two blokes nicking it whether you want it gone or not.
Fair play to your dad for sticking at it.
Glad it brought back some fond memories
Superb photography really captures the times.
Excellent video .
That warms my heart, thanks
@@russellboycephotographer i meant it.
Absolutely brilliant photographer a good eye as they as they say .
I lived those days of twin tubs and my god did those photographs really take me back .
Superb mate just superb all of it.
At the weekend there were two lads outside with a Horse and Cart collecting Scrap. Is the first time have ever seen them but they should do OK from stuff that would otherwise need a trip to the tip.
Good to hear that
Thanks
Great short film, lovely to meet your dad George and his horses and you should be famous and wealthy with your talent for photography 😀
Glad you like it. sadly i think neither George or myself are destined for wealth or fame
@@russellboycephotographer nonsense you're both so talented, you deserve both the recognition and the spondoolies to reflect that
RESPECT!!!
Great video..lovely to see some of the old faces..
Glad you enjoyed it
This is a beautiful snapshot of a moment in time, beautiful photography all through. P.s I really like the Clash band photo on the living room wall at the end.
Many thanks - George is a massive Clash fan
A great loss to Humberside. Thanks for uploading
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it
Loved it, that iconic call! Best of luck to the Norris family.
so glad you enjoyed it
a really interesting video - well done
thanks and glad you like it - you might also like this just published bit.ly/3PR7sv5
We still have the Rag n Bone man round our streets up the coast in Saltburn. Always makes me smile when I hear the shout. Recycling is key as we move forwards.
Could not agree more
@@russellboycephotographer great video highlighting this family and the lfie led. 2x x👍
Back in the 60's, the call in my area, was " Toys for rags!! "..we were given crap
plastic toys or a balloon.
Great history and photos
Thank-you very much
Really well made film on a disappearing world
thanks and glad you like it - you might also like this just published bit.ly/3PR7sv5
Used to get a ballon for your rags lol
We moved on hoss n cart twice. My uncle Baggy was awesome!
Impressive and very well done!
Thank you very much Ted
Great video
Thanks!
My family, the Midgley's were proper rag n bone men in Hull, we had a horse and cart, which I used to ride with my Uncle Tommy way back in the 60's, before that his dad Thomas ran the business, I think we suffered much more abuse in those days, but as the saying goes, where there's muck there's brass
Terry sorry to hear about the abuse. As they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
So interesting and these fellas are legends , proper grafters old skool 👌 The Dad i wish him all the very best ..
Thanks and glad you find this interesting
Wonder if anyone in the Bristol area remember two brothers i think they were called Reg, Lenny they had a nickname they were called the Twinners usually collected scrap in a pram,two lovely characters.this would have been around the early 1980ies
thanks - what is interesting is that I photographed a man pushing a trolley loaded with scrap along Lea Bridge Road's cycle lane about two weeks ago - no cry from him as he had a full load!
Brilliant video... Hard times but 100% better than now
many thanks glad you enjoyed it
Such great work Russell. Maybe video could open up a whole new avenue for your work? Watch ‘Of Time and the City’ by director Terence Davies, if you don’t already know it? He has to be my absolute favourite British director. His poignant film of his home city Liverpool, both past and present, reminds me of your own work in Hull. There is absolutely nothing wrong with looking back to the past! think it’s a incredibly rich vein to mine.
Thanks Liz and for sure I'll try to watch Of Time and the City’
Wow good on you both keep it up shame there nothing like it north wales
thanks for taking the time to watch and comment
a life lived from scrap i take my hat off to you
Aw Russell, just discovered you. This takes me back to my own childhood here in Scotland. Im nearly 60 and we had a ragbone man in the 60s. I remember getting a baloon or a multi coloured ball. And we thought this was fantastic. How kids have changed. Offer a baloon now and you'd end up wearing it!. Happy days. Its great for you folks in Hull, that you still have your Rag n bone man. Keep up the good work auld yin. Theres 25 years left in you yet! Take care all
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks
George is a National Treasure.
Indeed he is...
Tip top! Very interesting...
Thanks a million
Amazing men 👍🏻
couldn't agree more
Whilst watching this interesting man, someone has just dumped a 10ft pile of rubbish on one of brightons main roads.
I've also worked doing some recycling work, scrapping, wood & recycling.
Great content & it's an enjoyable job, honest days graft.
Yikes - lets hope it gets sorted soon. Glad you enjoyed my story telling
@@russellboycephotographer yes it was cleared up same day. They had to get a huge grab truck to clear it away. 👍🏻
Remember my Mam In the 70s 80s renting a twin tub washer for the day from a fella down our street on North Hull Estate. He had a lock up at the back of Goodfellows on Quadrant and would drop it off in a morning and pick it up at the end at the day.
Things have certainly changed
Im doing this on Face Book Bris Australia..Fridges ,Washing Machines, Dishwashers, ..I remove motors etc seperate sale to metal recyclers
Amazed that this video is being looked at in Australia, so many thanks. Recycling through the generations
Here in Middlesbrough (and a rough estate) we have a rag bone fella lives up the road from me. I nicked a few golf clubs off the van the other week went and played golf in the park and put them back lol So I guess I "borrowed" them lol
I think you can say the golf clubs were truly recycled
My farther james duffy dont it for years horse and cart ,,van he died good Friday 2022 done it till almost the day he died
hard working man
@@russellboycephotographer to right real good memory's from when I was a kid with first horse daisy lol
If we heard them coming down Spyvee street, we would have knocked round all the neigbours and gathered a big enough bag of rags to earn a balloon by the time they got to Egton Street. :)
radiators iron boards combi boilers are the norm these days
35 years ago I had a little haulage company and my ex father in law was head of Norweb and he wangled it for me to collect the old appliances which got stripped down and plenty of money was earned
Christ I remember the rag n bone man
Recycling long before it was cool
Indeed too true, but good that it's cool to recycle now
freind of my mates pete sparrow shallow and mr john tavener
we are slowly losing the best generation that ever lived!! so so sad to think about.
i'd like to think that every generation has more to offer but for sure what proceeded us was something very special.
It was always "Rag Bone" when I was a kid in Hull in the 50's. Can't imagine collecting "bone" so much these days. Probably used for bone china....
Hi Martin - my understanding is that bone was from the meat bones in households in Victorian days was was recycled and melted down to glues.
They used to collect the bone from peoples' homes and they'd sell it on to dealers who'd sell it to military and mining concerns who would dissolve it down with acids and so forth to arrive at some sorts of liquid explosive incendiary. I am not up with the exact science of it [ never am ]. You could imagine different grades of post-meal bones. Like, " What's with this spindly chicken stuff ? ", and " Oh, okay, good solid beef and steak bone ", and " You couldn't have washed and scraped that lot off a bit more before cashing it in ? ".
Used to be that the Rag & Bone men gave you a bit of something for any scrap. Not nowadays. Boney old rag!
I make bread out of nothing but air , I have left the house without a penny in my pocket and come home with a thousand pounds in it some days and sometimes I have come home hungry tired and not a penny to my name . I work for me and me only I don’t cheat or steal I earn a honourable living but no other man makes money from my labour .
a nice thought
Bloody hell, aint heard this shout out for decades. The rag n bone man died off and the sneaky thieving scrap junkies robbed owt that wasnt inside ya gaff
Ouch! Sounds like you had some bad experiences. Glad that George brought back some fond memories
It’s all Europeans now
These men were living proof that the Gypsy/Travelling community are not always the one that make the news (for all the wrong reasons)... there are good and bad in all races..
Could not agree more - I always think there are many more good than bad everywhere
I done scrap collecting full time every gay for 15 qeers and it caused me severe depression and a nervous breakdown and then I commited suicide last year. Now I'm a ghost writing this and forever shouting Rag Bone for eternity only at night time here in the qeer old corrupt uk 🇬🇧 walking around the uk streets with my Asda shopping trolley...ANY OLD IRON..RAG BONE..RAG BONE.
Now the greedy uk taxman will haunt him for ther pound of flesh..