General: Leicester Lingo

Ok, I’ve feeling really tired at the moment, so I’m just going to make a little entry which was sparked off via overhearing someone on the bus in town today. Therefore, for the benefit of any visitors to Leicester and Leicestershire, here’s some hints to help you:

• “M’duck” is a form of endearment – likewise “Ay up m’duck” means “Hello” (see also: Leicester slang)
• “Frit” means “frightened” – for example: “When Alex started coughing up blood, it really frit us” means “When Alex started coughing up blood, it really frightened us”
• Pineapple Fritters (pineapple slices fried in batter) are available at most Fish and Chip shops – some also sell Spam or Kebab Fritters
• If you are asking for directions in Leicester, do not ask for Belvoir Street or Belvoir Castle (home to the Duke and Duchess of Rutland): instead ask for “Beaver Street” or “Beaver Castle” (blame the French: but it does mean ‘Beautiful View’)
• Despite what the Town Hall Square branch of Barclays bank appears to claim – they do not have cash machines every where. The Bank is on a corner and hence their cash machines are on a street actually called ‘Every Street’.
• If you were reading the Merc in the Royal to see what City were doing – then you’ll be reading the local newspaper (The Leicester Mercury) in the Leicester Royal Infirmary Hospital (also known as the ‘LRI’) to see what the Leicester City Football Club (a.k.a. LCFC) were doing
• Granby Halls is no longer standing, but the pay and display car-park which is now in its place can be found by the Tigers ground (Leicester City Rugby Union Football Club) at the junction of Aylstone Road (prounced Ale-ston) and Welford Road – just opposite the LRI.
• The “Golden Mile” is, in fact, Belgrave Road – it got that nick name because of its many Asian jewellery shops
• “Charles Street Cop Shop” (and sometimes just ‘Charles Street’) refers to the Police Station on the corner of Charles Street, St. Georges Way and St. Georges Street (opposite the train station and the Leicester Mercury building). The Leicestershire police are also known by their distinctive telephone number “7 2s” – 222 2222.
• Famous historical people from Leicester include Daniel Lambert (“Britain’s fattest man” with a waist of 3.1meters), the 9 day Queen of England – Lady Jane Grey (her ruins of her family home can still be found in Bradgate Park), and Joseph Carey Merrick (more popularly known as ‘The Elephant Man’)
• Other famous people include Gary Lineker (ex-England footballer and now TV personality), Engelbert Humperdinck (singer), Sir Richard ‘Dickie’ Attenborough (actor/director)