JK GILLON Edinburgh's best-known street character in the latter part of the 19th century was "Coconut Tam". He had a regular stance on the High Street where he sold fruit, vegetables and especially coconuts. His "thin-voiced" street cry was "Coco-nit! Coco-nit! Come and buy, ha'penny the bit".
His real name was Thomas Simpson and he is described in one account as a "thin, humpy wee man with outsize lugs supporting a frayed bowler hat which jauntily displayed a large sprig of heather".
|
