[H1]REWIND: Hitchin Nub News Rewind:[H1]

Hello and welcome to Nub News' weekly Rewind section where we highlight a person or place in our town every week in our Friday newsletter and then at the weekend on our website.

For this week's Rewind, we're asking: Who remembers Bike Man Laurie and other loveable Hitchin characters?

Loveable Hitchin characters

We all know Hitchin is a wonderful town with a real sense of community spirit.

With a population of around 35,000, the chances are most of us are aware of many people without actually knowing them, because we see them around in town, or shopping, or socialising.

For example, many of us know Mandy our town's brilliant lollipop lady. (Read our feature on her here)

However, as our town emerges from two long years of lockdowns thanks to the Covid pandemic, as part of the rich fabric of our community there are a collection of well-known faces that we have come to look out for, but haven't seen for a while.

None more so than Bike Man Laurie.

Bike Man Laurie

Anyone and everyone who grew up in Hitchin, or has lived in the town over the last decade or two will know of this wonderful character.

Before the coronavirus crisis struck, it would follow that if you were having a bad day, 'Bike Man' would emerge out of nowhere and make you smile.

How?

Well as every Hitchinite knows, Laurie is a wonderful man who used to ride around on his bicycle dancing and waving at everyone he came into contact with.

Whether that be drivers on Hitchin roads, young or old pedestrians he would ride past, or even if you were simply out shopping, one sight of Laurie on his bike waving his arms in mesmerisingly endearing way, complete with any number of happy facial expressions, couldn't help but brighten your day.

With his high-vis yellow jacket and huge smile - and, as you can see from our picture, a large sombrero - Laurie was well-known to everyone who called Hitchin home.

Where is Laurie now?

It might just be us, but alas, we haven't seen Hitchin's much-loved Bike Man for a while. First and foremost we hope he's ok. Secondly, we hope Laurie will make a comeback now that Covid has subsided.

Heavens knows in the current climate we could all do with a smile.

So, if you know who Bike Man Laurie is please say hello from Hitchin Nub News and ask him when he will be gracing our town's streets with his engaging smile and amusing antics.

Other Hitchin characters

Of course, Laurie isn't the only Hitchin character we recall with a warm smile.

Before Covid struck, who remembers the man who was the absolute spitting image of Billy Idol? Come rain or shine he would be clad in rock star leather and dark glasses.

Or who recalls Victorian Man? Always impeccably dressed, invariably in tweed, complete with outstanding mutton chops.

And 'Hello Man'. A lovely gentleman who would always stop and say hello, whether he knew you or not.

Eccentricity should be savoured and valued and all these characters certainly helped to add to the rich tapestry of towns such as Hitchin.

If you come across Bike Man please do let us know as we'd love to interview him for a warm feature.