Helen the bell ringer

[TGR]

Let's rename the North Stand "The Helen's Bell End!"

Seems a good fit with the adjacent "Colin Bell Stand"!

I've got many happy memories of Helen and her bell in the old scoreboard end!

Anyone remember those days in the sixties, when the first team were away and the reserves were playing - you had to wait for the bloke to arrive at the scoreboard with the numbers, to find out how we were getting on at half time!

How things have changed on the communications front since those happy days!

Remember the 'Scoreboard Scoop'? My older brother won it once. I think he got a fiver. Be about £100 quid today.

I also remember a night match one time against Blackpool and it was so bloody cold they started a camp fire in the scoreboard end. Everyone gathered round and watched the game in front of the fire!! Imagine even thinking about that today. I remember the 'Ballet on Ice' game. It was so cold me and brother bought 2 wagon wheels and a Bovril each. We ate the wagon wheels and put the wrappers over the toes of our socks and then put our shoes back on!!
That was when they had blokes walking round the front of the staands selling refreshments.

 

[lancs blue]

Let's rename the North Stand "The Helen's Bell End!"

Seems a good fit with the adjacent "Colin Bell Stand"!

I've got many happy memories of Helen and her bell in the old scoreboard end!

Anyone remember those days in the sixties, when the first team were away and the reserves were playing - you had to wait for the bloke to arrive at the scoreboard with the numbers, to find out how we were getting on at half time!

How things have changed on the communications front since those happy days!

Remember the 'Scoreboard Scoop'? My older brother won it once. I think he got a fiver. Be about £100 quid today.

I also remember a night match one time against Blackpool and it was so bloody cold they started a camp fire in the scoreboard end. Everyone gathered round and watched the game in front of the fire!! Imagine even thinking about that today. I remember the 'Ballet on Ice' game. It was so cold me and brother bought 2 wagon wheels and a Bovril each. We ate the wagon wheels and put the wrappers over the toes of our socks and then put our shoes back on!!
That was when they had blokes walking round the front of the staands selling refreshments.

I won £14 on Scoreboard Scoop, it would have paid for a S/T in the Main Stand at the time, I thought I was rich!

 

[Plato]

Someone said on here before that the lights out night games should have Helen's bell ringing as the lights are out, to build the tension. Im shocked the club hasn't done this, she is part of our history afterall.

Neck hairs standing up just reading that.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

she was old enough to have been to the Etihad (early years)?? am i right in saying i would have seen her in a wheelchair with a blue wig (possibly collecting for charity too)?

Not sure about her being ''old enough''(???) but she was certainly alive and yes, attending games at Eastlands early days.

 

[Skip Donoghue]

"Helen Helen ring your bell, Helen ring your bell" great memories, sadly I think she wouldn't be allowed these days, maybe someone should give it a go lol

Thats right the Kippax would sing this during the match, and of course Helen would reply, much to the cheers of the Kippax, I think she use to sit in the North Stand, because I was a season ticket holder for a while, and saw her regulary take a seat on the front row, decked out in a big blue and white scarf and badges ect.....those where the days, good memories.........

Yes, right behind the goal. I remember she was a big Joe Corrigan (no pun intended!) fan and used to give him birthday presents.

I am sure shee used to give big Joe something for luck before every game...don't know what it was but he would put it in his glove bag...and I am sure she did it with Alex Williams too

 

[blueandy1mac]

M.E.N.
Manchester City


Tributes pour in for Helen

September 27, 2005

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Helen "the bell" Turner


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TRIBUTES have been pouring in for Helen "the bell" Turner, the famous City fan who sadly died last Friday.

Helen, 85, became an iconic supporter and rang her bell in support of the players for over 30 years.

Club secretary Bernard Halford said: "Helen Turner was probably our most famous and well known supporter."

He added on the club's website: "She will be sadly, sadly missed and as supporters go - she is a legend."

Helen was a keen chairty worker, and had a flower stall outside Manchester Royal Infirmary.

 

[laserblue]

Helen, 85, became an iconic supporter and rang her bell in support of the players for over 30 years.

and the rest. i remember her at maine road in the 60's & my dad remembered her as a well known city fan running a flower stall outside manchester royal infirmary before that.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Thats right the Kippax would sing this during the match, and of course Helen would reply, much to the cheers of the Kippax, I think she use to sit in the North Stand, because I was a season ticket holder for a while, and saw her regulary take a seat on the front row, decked out in a big blue and white scarf and badges ect.....those where the days, good memories.........

Yes, right behind the goal. I remember she was a big Joe Corrigan (no pun intended!) fan and used to give him birthday presents.

I am sure shee used to give big Joe something for luck before every game...don't know what it was but he would put it in his glove bag...and I am sure she did it with Alex Williams too

A sprig of ''lucky'' heather I believe

 

[failsworthblueboy]

Helen, 85, became an iconic supporter and rang her bell in support of the players for over 30 years.

and the rest. i remember her at maine road in the 60's & my dad remembered her as a well known city fan running a flower stall outside manchester royal infirmary before that.

They have a picture as a tribute to Helen "the flower lady" on the 1st floor of the old MRI.
Much loved and missed character at the hospital.

 

[samharris]

Her bell should be rang when we get the title..A fitting tribute to a true Blue..

 

[c4lv3rt]

City Legend, my best friends mum was her carer for years and after her unfortunate passing said friends mum was able to get me a few small mcfc gifts that Helen once owned. RIP.

 

[tiggsywiggsywoo]

Helen the bell ringer I remember her well. As if it was yesterday.

 

[WyongBlue]

Use to see her sit a lot in the North Stand during the 70's, all decked out in her scarves, badges, and of course that bell, the kippax would sing "Helen, Helen wring your bell", and of course Helen would respond to a lot of cheers from the kippax...................good memories of those years..................

 

[pride in battle]

as been said she was united first,always went on finglands coaches,and i have seen her give tickets to home fans when weve been away,we asked her a few times for briefs,norwich,southampton and she blanked us,with her white flannel pants,blue city shirt.rossette scarf autograph book,city bag,with city flask,city cup ect all the above sums city fans up eccentric,could do with more of them,one who i cant recall his name think it was pete,went everywhere with city coat on,city bag,scarf bobby hat,always smiling smashing fella always on kippax with a radio to his ear

Still goes mate,sits near me in 118/119

 

[Blue Streak]

Someone said on here before that the lights out night games should have Helen's bell ringing as the lights are out, to build the tension. Im shocked the club hasn't done this, she is part of our history afterall.

Neck hairs standing up just reading that.

Absolutely superb idea. Someone pass this onto the club.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

as been said she was united first,always went on finglands coaches,and i have seen her give tickets to home fans when weve been away,we asked her a few times for briefs,norwich,southampton and she blanked us,with her white flannel pants,blue city shirt.rossette scarf autograph book,city bag,with city flask,city cup ect all the above sums city fans up eccentric,could do with more of them,one who i cant recall his name think it was pete,went everywhere with city coat on,city bag,scarf bobby hat,always smiling smashing fella always on kippax with a radio to his ear

Still goes mate,sits near me in 118/119

 

[Anonymous]

as been said she was united first,always went on finglands coaches,and i have seen her give tickets to home fans when weve been away,we asked her a few times for briefs,norwich,southampton and she blanked us,with her white flannel pants,blue city shirt.rossette scarf autograph book,city bag,with city flask,city cup ect all the above sums city fans up eccentric,could do with more of them,one who i cant recall his name think it was pete,went everywhere with city coat on,city bag,scarf bobby hat,always smiling smashing fella always on kippax with a radio to his ear

Still goes mate,sits near me in 118/119

maybe he could become the new bell ringer ? bring back helens bells !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Still goes mate,sits near me in 118/119

maybe he could become the new bell ringer ? bring back helens bells !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Passed him outside before the Bolton game. He was wearing some blue sunglasses now as well.

As for Helen, when I was a kid used to go into windy corner and sit on the barriers with my dad behind me so I wouldn't fall off. Bought flowers off her at MRI when my dad had a bypass and have also been scared to death of her on the A coach with my wife.

 

[Ducado]

Someone said on here before that the lights out night games should have Helen's bell ringing as the lights are out, to build the tension. Im shocked the club hasn't done this, she is part of our history afterall.

Neck hairs standing up just reading that.

Absolutely superb idea. Someone pass this onto the club.

I thought we did this one night last season?

Anyway I will always remember Helen, although I never met her, the bell is one of my earliest memories of City and song, and asking who was Helen

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

I used to get the 76/77 from Lloyd St to St Gregs in Ardwick as a kid in the 70s and she was regularly on one of them. She used to get off at the Royal Infirmary (I think she sold flowers outside). Always looked formidable (if you know what I mean...).