A new book has just come out , the autobiography of Jimmy Donnelly, or Jimmy the Weed, a leading face in the so-called Quality Street Gang. He mentions Bobby Critchley, who it transpires that he was the big man in Manchester during te 40`s and 50`s. He also gives mention to many of the faces of Manchester. Now I know about a man whom information has been very thin on the ground. I believed his name was Tainey, but in fact it is Tierney. Mick Tierney was known as "The Terror", lived in Moss Side, and provided protection for some of the shebeens or illegal drinking dens. This, apparently, was his main source of income. Makes a nonsense of the talk of a "Criminal Organisation"
There is no mention of Critchley having a brother. It alo seems that Tierney was to have ahd a straightener with Jimmy Swords, the pivotal figure in the QSG. Tierney, it appears, "did not fancy it".
Let us hope that it promps more books about the other major cities that have their own underworlds, and get away from London.
Thank you for this information but as I suspect this is the same Bobby Critchley, he did have a brother called Billy, as family legend dictates. Bobby had a number of interests in Manchester, including bookmakers, night clubs and shops. Legend also tells of a large limousine in which the duo travelled the streets of Manchester.
ReplyDeleteThaqnk you for your comments. Any little titbits are welcome as I like to regard myself as an amateur crime historian (of sorts). Any other bits you might like to know, i`ll reply if I have anything. Cheers.
DeleteThank you for your reply. I am interested in Billy as family legend paints him as a colourful character. Apparently he had a learning difficulty following a forceps birth and he was looked after by Bobby. He had the nickname of 'the milky bar kid'. I am not suggesting this has anything to do with the confectionary of the same name due to the time this would have been in the 1900's. Legend tells that when he was out with the runners or bouncers (big bruisers of men) he would only let them drink milk. It is said it was a sight to behold all of them sitting in the bars with their milk.
DeleteI would like to know if you have encountered any such myth in connection with the gangs of Manchester. Legend also states that the coining of the QSG was as a result of this link to confectionary later in the 1900's, however this may be just speculative fantasy.
Abook well worth a purchase is "The Gangs of Manchester" by Andrew Davies. This goes back to the 1860`s about the youth gangs known as "Scuttlers" A bit of a heavy read but cramme3d with information. The QSG monicker did come about in regards to the sweet advert. To find out more, you could get hold of the new book about the QSG by one of it`s main men, Jimmy Donnelly. Entitled "Jimmy The Weed" Again, very informative about the characters in Manchester. Good reading.
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