Xylophone man
Joseph Conrad believed that the best stories are about the author and that when telling a story it's an error to talk about someone else. I'm not sure I agree.

I've got the usual assortment of tales of being rude to tramps, running away from them when I was younger and, on a couple of disturbing occasions, receiving sexual advances that made my skin crawl.

Most people have a tramp (or even several, if they're lucky) that they remember. There was the one who hung around outside my university that I bought cider for so he would keep me entertained while I handed out flyers for one pointless club night or another. There was the heroin addict outside Euston Square station that I saw creep a little closer to shuffling off this mortal coil each day. But these are all little, pointless memories of a single person - few cross over to become an institution. Xylophone man was one of those few.

Anybody who spent time in Nottingham city centre during the nineties is likely to remember him. From about 1989, until his death in 2004 he sat there (usually outside C&A on Listergate), playing his child's xylophone. He never worried about the finer points, like learning to play a recognisable tune, he just plinked away on his tiny instrument for 15 years. I don't remember seeing him without a smile on his face.

Maybe it's uncharitable to call him a tramp, or anything similar, as there were rumours about him having a home somewhere in the city. But as he never worried about the finer points, neither shall I.

Nottingham city centre's been a slightly poorer place since.


(geekboy Hillbilly., Thu 2 Jul 2009, 18:46, 8 replies)

Frank was a legend.
The plaque outside H&M doesn't do him justice.
(Rob.S, Thu 2 Jul 2009, 18:52, closed)

Never understood why they called him xylophone man
It's a glockenspiel. He was a legend though.
( rofl harris, Thu 2 Jul 2009, 19:12, closed)

R.I.P. Legend
I used to go out of my way just to see him "perform". Thought he would go on forever. I'm reminded of him every time one of my toddlers attacks a glockenspiel, with gusto but with no discernable tune or rhythm.

I'm back in the old town this weekend so will raise a jar in his honour.
( superstoater is so mauve, you don't know what he's planning, Thu 2 Jul 2009, 22:39, closed)

He has a plaque?
Awww. What a legend!
(berk, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 9:59, closed)

Should have been
a statue, go on Frank.
(Gertcha_cowson NAH MATE, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 13:14, closed)

Genius!!
This old boy was a legend!

I used to love the way he finished off his "tunes" with a flourish and a wave of his arm. I remember him being featured on some CCTV-based show on Central TV too.
(timmyjimmy, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 16:01, closed)

Tramp or no tramp
Frank Robinson was a legend. He lived in Cotgrave IIRC.
(Code of Post lives at the moment in time that is..., Fri 3 Jul 2009, 16:12, closed)

Fancy seeing you here...
I saw Frank a couple of times when I went to visit my housemate from uni. As you've said, he was never without a smile (at least when I saw him), and I'm sure he brightened up many a shopper's day.

RIP Frank. Keep playing those tunes, sir.
( TheMagicDwarf is back like ballroom dancing, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 23:04, closed)