Gypsy funeral

Anyone ever seen a gypsy funeral procession before?  I hadn't until yesterday, in Doncaster.

It was massive, going along a very busy dual carriageway.  Four beautiful white horses with plumes, pulling a similarly beautiful white carriage, which presumably contained the coffin.  Following the carriage was a massive crowd on foot, mostly men, I think, just walking down the middle of the dual carriageway.  Then there was a whole line of black stretch limos.  Following those was a long line of open trucks, each one packed full of flowers.  And bringing up the rear was a single police car.  Wow, it was so spectacular; never seen anything like it before.  

They tell me that Doncaster has probably the largest gypsy population in the country, which surprised me.  

I wouldn't have been very happy if i'd been in a car stuck behind all that riff raff.

Don't tempt me  

Quoted from marinette

Anyone ever seen a gypsy funeral procession before?  I hadn't until yesterday, in Doncaster.

It was massive, going along a very busy dual carriageway.  Four beautiful white horses with plumes, pulling a similarly beautiful white carriage, which presumably contained the coffin.  Following the carriage was a massive crowd on foot, mostly men, I think, just walking down the middle of the dual carriageway.  Then there was a whole line of black stretch limos.  Following those was a long line of open trucks, each one packed full of flowers.  And bringing up the rear was a single police car.  Wow, it was so spectacular; never seen anything like it before.  

They tell me that Doncaster has probably the largest gypsy population in the country, which surprised me.  

Just trying put on my suprised face

Quoted from marinette

They tell me that Doncaster has probably the largest gypsy population in the country, which surprised me.  

When I worked in Donny in the early 90's I was likewise surprised at how many pubs had signs on the doors saying "No Travellers". I couldn't understand why they needed them.

surely in donnie its difficult to decipher between a traveller and a yorkie, lol.

there was a massive one in lincoln the other year, all from newark n donnie etc and the like...huge

Quoted from barralad

When I worked in Donny in the early 90's I was likewise surprised at how many pubs had signs on the doors saying "No Travellers". I couldn't understand why they needed them.

So technically then. The only people allowed in were the peple that lived in the pub itself.  

Quoted from Civvy at last

So technically then. The only people allowed in were the peple that lived in the pub itself.  

That's what I thought! Imagine my surprise when they let in the multitude of 90's chav types (I forget what the term was then) who almost without fail threw up, fought or chucked drinks around.
My wife at the time was refused entry to a pub in Donny centre because she had jeans on. These jeans cost £70 at the time. Perhaps if she'd worn her shell suit...

Areas surrounding Doncaster have always tradionally had a large Gypsy influence - i'd love to see some of the mouthpieces on here give it some lip about "travellers" etc in, for example, a pub in Armthorpe.

Armthorpe, yes, I think I drive near that vicinity from the M18 to get into Doncaster, and two or three years back I used to look out for a horse tethered near the roadside - it was there every morning.  I must admit, it never occurred to me that it might be a gypsy horse but now I think about it, I'm sure it must have been.  I'm not a big fan of horses in general, but those gypsy horses really are beautiful.  We also got a bit lost going through Leeds yesterday (satnav went off the rails, for once!) and there were a few similar horses in parts of Leeds (we 'explored' parts of that city I never knew existed).  I understand there's a fairly big travelling community there as well.  Gypsy horse spotting is rapidly becoming my latest obsession.  

[url]http://www.gypsyhorses.co.uk/[/url]

It fascinates me how gypsy culture and communities have survived and adapted over the centuries despite continuous persecution throughout Europe.  Incredible really.

It fascinates me how gypsy culture and communities have survived and adapted over the centuries despite continuous persecution throughout Europe.  Incredible really.

[/quote]

yes, the ingenious ways of robbing people they keep coming up with is pretty impressive.

[url]http://www.englishunlimited.co.uk/GMC/[/url]

Quoted from marinette

[url]http://www.englishunlimited.co.uk/GMC/[/url]

well b'gger me, a site run by gypsy folk which details all the truths about them.....i take it all back, they are quite angelic really. Especially like the bit about crime actually going down in neighbourhoods when they arrive.

I think i will stick with my own experience formed opinion based on vandalism, trespass, criminal damage, increased crime and ripping off old ladies with a bit of dodgy tarmac thank you.

Well I prefer my theory that there is probably good and bad in all communities, including our own.

I was quite happy to go along with the website until the claim that Django Reinhardt helped invent jazz

well i do agree with you there and i think they probably look after their own alot better than we do.

Quoted from barralad

I was quite happy to go along with the website until the claim that Django Reinhardt helped invent jazz

was you ? To me its like the N.R.A in america saying guns make everybody safe, pure propoganda, there may be some truthful comments on there but they are hardly likely to publicise any bad points are they?

Quoted from moosey_club

was you ? To me its like the N.R.A in america saying guns make everybody safe, pure propoganda, there may be some truthful comments on there but they are hardly likely to publicise any bad points are they?

Could be an interesting debate? What constitutes "propaganda"?? Actually it was a "throw away" remark. I take everything I read on websites with a pinch of salt. However I was trying to point out that the assertion that "D.R. helped invent Jazz" to be a step too far.....

Strange, I think I've got another Waterboys song coming on all of a sudden  

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdyE8_7puPQ[/url]

There is a fair-sized gypsy site on the Leics/Northants border. Many stolen goods ended up there and the cops would not investigate. However, a massive raid uncovered expensive cars, jewellery + laundered money. The people that live nearby would not take Marinette's charitable view of gypsies; neither would people in other parts of the country that have suffered from their disregard for the laws of the land.

Nice to see a plug for the Waterboys - a top band. Saw them (again) at De Mont in Leic on last tour - 2 1/4 hours of great music. Great chill out

Quoted from paulgtfc

There is a fair-sized gypsy site on the Leics/Northants border. Many stolen goods ended up there and the cops would not investigate. However, a massive raid uncovered expensive cars, jewellery + laundered money. The people that live nearby would not take Marinette's charitable view of gypsies; neither would people in other parts of the country that have suffered from their disregard for the laws of the land.

Nice to see a plug for the Waterboys - a top band. Saw them (again) at De Mont in Leic on last tour - 2 1/4 hours of great music. Great chill out

I can't remember exactly how much was recovered, but IIRC when the police dug up the tarmac on the site they found at least £1 million in cash on top of all the stolen property.

There has always been a big divide between the "genuine" Romany gypsies and the other travellers but it's sometimes difficult to know which is which.

I've seen one before in Gainsborough.

The casket was made out of something bloody heavy the funeral people couldn't lift it. Next thing you know a load of lads come out lift this thing into the church.

It was moving to watch the service, I was babysitting the vicars children at the time. What was more incredible was the array of BMW and Mercedes 4x4 etc.

There was a police presence due to the recent 'problems' associated with the traveller community. They later went into town for the wake and had a jolly time.

The previous funeral, they wrecked the town.

Quoted from paulgtfc

There is a fair-sized gypsy site on the Leics/Northants border. Many stolen goods ended up there and the cops would not investigate. However, a massive raid uncovered expensive cars, jewellery + laundered money. The people that live nearby would not take Marinette's charitable view of gypsies; neither would people in other parts of the country that have suffered from their disregard for the laws of the land.

Me included. Some years back thieving gypsies conned my pensioner mum out of £500. It worked like this; on the knock they found a pensioner couple and told them their roof needed 'fixing'. For twenty minutes 'work' they charged £500. They then went to my mum's next door neighbour and said they'd been working on Mr and Mrs X's house and noticed that her roof needed work. As they'd worked on a neighbours' house she thought they'd been chosen by the couple and agreed: ker-ching, another £500.

As the property is semi-detatched they knocked on my old dears' door and said work was needed. As she was under the impression her neighbour had contracted them she agreed. Ker-ching, another £500.

In the space of just over one hour these bastards had conned £1,500 from some of the most vulnerable of our society. I asked a builder friend of mine to look at all 3 houses: he said nothing had needed to be done and what is more, nothing had been done. To this day my mum is still embarrassed by the incident.

As far as I am concerned there can never be enough gypsy funerals.

Gippos are freeloading tramps. Shove your pegs up your bottom, get a job and contribute to society.

Never trusted them since when as a 9 year old boy, I was camping up in the Lake District with my parents on holiday. Such was my naivety of youth, but when a beautifully hand painted caravan arrived on the site, my sis and I pleaded with Mum to let us have our fortunes told.

Dad was dead against it, but we parted with 50p each of our holiday savings, only for me to be told I would have 5 kids when I was older  

Talk about being traumatised at a young age by the lying witch!!!

I envy the "genuine" gypsy way of life.  I just feel it has become bastardised by the "new age travellers" and people jumping on the bandwagon.  I guess the vast majority of travellers nowadays are not true gypsys thus leading people not to trust them. We must be a shame for the decent folk  

Quoted from Civvy at last

I envy the "genuine" gypsy way of life.  I just feel it has become bastardised by the "new age travellers" and people jumping on the bandwagon.  I guess the vast majority of travellers nowadays are not true gypsys thus leading people not to trust them. We must be a shame for the decent folk  

Well said. Pretty much sums up my views.