Following a recent news story, I tweeted a joke that some people might see as being in poor taste, but is vital to this article, so bear with me…
“One in three Disabled people live in poverty. And one in three Deaf people live in Purley”.
It was one of those deaf in-jokes. You’d have to live somewhere south of London to get it. An interpreter retweeted me: “So true!” But a hearing resident (one of those community minded types who had ‘Purley’ on search) contacted me directly to ask “What’s the punchline?”.
That is the punchline. A lot of Deaf people do happen to live in Purley, (which sort of rhymes with poverty) and a lot of them are my friends.
Purley is a town in Surrey, south of London. It’s on the Brighton train line, between East Croydon and Gatwick. The A23 cuts through the town. Although it’s a suburban town, it’s got plenty of green space too. To get a feeling for the place, check out this video…
A survey a few years ago found that some of the UK’s wealthiest residents live in Purley (as well as that bloke from Status Quo). That wealth index confirmed Purley’s inherent poshness. Indeed, the local sign for Purley is to flick your index finger against the underside of your nose, as if to say ‘stuck-up’, or posh.
But that’s by the by. Purley is a ‘Deaf town’. I don’t mean a town where Deaf people of all trades work, live and play. That’d be like a surreal version of Trumpton. It’s not a place with a long Deaf tradition like Derby, or a city stronghold (Bristol, Glasgow) but it’s where a lot of Deaf people living in London seem to end up.
If we’re being specific, not all Deaf residents live in Purley. There’s nearby Caterham. Kenley. But they’re close enough to be lumped in together as ‘the Purley lot.’ Or ‘the ‘Purley mob’.
When Christmas comes around, just a small number of the Deaf Purleyites can take over a whole restaurant for their annual meal. I’m invited as a friendly outsider – on condition that I take the awkward corner seat.
The centre of the town is dominated by a large roundabout, on which is sited a large Tesco store. If you shop there for long enough on any given night of the week, it’s guaranteed you’ll bump into a Deaf person. One local girl even works on the tills. Why play the Deaf card when you can use your Clubcard?
Purley is chiefly famous for being the setting for the BBC’s 1970s sitcom Terry and June. Check out the opening credits if you were born too late to remember the show…
This cosy, middle-class set-up extends to its Deaf residents of today. When visiting one time, I asked some of its residents why they chose Purley as their home.
“It’s handy”, one chap responded. There’s houses, ample shopping and good travel options”.
“But you could say the same about Croydon”, I replied in turn.
“Oh no, not Croydon”, his friend injected. “Purley’s… nicer “.
The others nodded in silent agreement. I briefly wondered if there was some sort of Purley code.
These “good travel options” lead some to believe that Purley is a Deaf town because it’s the last stop before you leave London Travelcard Zone 6. And once you’re out of Zone 6, you can’t use your Freedom Pass. It’s like Purley is the last outpost, the Deaf frontier. If you’re a stranger riding into town, hitch your horse at Wetherspoon’s.
“We’re Deaf, we know where everyone else lives, but we do give each other space and privacy”, one long-term resident assured me. And why wouldn’t we all want this?
I’m reminded of a Deaf couple who thought it’d be a hoot to live in a block of flats in Nottingham purposely built for Deaf residents. The novelty quickly wore off. People were forever knocking on their door. Upon moving out they realised that they were missing several items ‘borrowed’ down the years by their neighbours.
I don’t know why Deaf Londoners choose to live in Purley. Maybe it’s just happenstance. Family ties. They found a job in London, dated someone local, got married, then don’t move.
They’re nearly all couples in Purley. Nice couples. Nice middle class couples.
“It’s where Deaf people go to die”, a single friend once remarked, rather cruelly. But guess where he’s considering moving to, now that he’s a family man?
Jonathan Reid is an occasional comedy writer and director who tweets as @DeafComedy. He lives in South London, 12 minutes away from Purley on the train.
The Limping Chicken is the world’s most popular deaf blog, covering UK news and opinions every weekday.
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William Mager
March 1, 2012
Brilliant article. I remember you telling me that many moons ago, but always wondered about the reasoning behind it! Makes perfect sense now…
Mark
March 1, 2012
It’s funny, I’ve been going through Purley since I was very young, given I lived in Epsom and my nan lives in New Addington (yes, the toilet of Croydon…) and I’ve never thought Purley was middle class or particularly nice! Just a driver’s nightmare…
JK
March 1, 2012
A nicely-purled purview of the not-at-all purulent purlieu of Purley.
Editor
March 1, 2012
*quits writing career and bows down*
Richard
March 1, 2012
Deaf people also live in Croydon; more specifically, in East and South Croydon and in Shirley. Purley doesn’t have a monopoly in deaf residents … And for Croydon residents, it’s only a bus or tram ride to the centre of Croydon or its Happy Valley, on one’s freedom pass. Don’t forget that East Croydon station has trains stopping there up to the small hours of the night. By comparison Purley is dead by 8 p.m. most nights.
Editor
March 1, 2012
I feel a Harry Hill moment coming on… I like Purley… and I like Croydon… but which is better? FIIIIIGGGHHHHT!
Steve
March 1, 2012
Excellent article, JR!
Same as Croydon trains and buses operate in Purley 24 hours a day. Very useful when you want to stay partying in London in the early hours!
People often thought Purley is near Wimbledon. It’s not – they are getting confused with PUTNEY!
Actually, one day we die, the nearest cremation we have to go is in Croydon!
Editor
March 1, 2012
Hang on, so deaf people go to Purley to die, and Croydon to fry? 😉
Scott
March 7, 2012
I don’t know, Editor, but they’re a sleepy lot in Beddington where I live. (it’s just a mile or so to the west of Croydon, for those without O-level Geog 😉 )
Semhar Beyene
March 2, 2012
Chuckle-worthy, thanks JR. I used to reside in Epsom for 3 years (uni) and wondered why so many deafies lived in Purley!
John Bownas
March 4, 2012
Just a couple of small geographical issues here. Purley ceased to be in Surrey around 1965 (if I remember correctly) and has been part of Croydon (Greater London) ever since. So technically speaking, if you live in Purley you also live in Croydon.
William Mager
March 6, 2012
This changes EVERYTHING
Scott
March 7, 2012
It might very well be part of Surrey again, if Ken gets back in – see http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Ken-vote-leave-London/story-15332450-detail/story.html . So Deaf Purleyites be warned, your freedom (passes) could be in peril! 🙁
Paul
March 4, 2012
I’m a soon to be a Purley resident. We choose the place because of good links to the Overground and access to work, shops, prices and the fact its on the London Bridge to Brighton train corridor. Plus the fact there are plenty of smiling Deaf faces nearby!
Oh Dear
March 14, 2012
When making a case for Purley…..upload some nice photos/videos…..THAT building in the first video puts me right off…..ghastly…..should be knocked down….perhaps the rioters should burn it down…..not some nice people furniture business.
fatanddeaf
March 26, 2012
What’s the reckoning for Wolverhampton then?
Scott
April 6, 2012
Does anyone here know when & where the next Purley deaf pub takes place? I ask because somebody I met last week told me it was on tonight (Good Friday) and I went down only to find I was the sole deaf bloke there all evening 🙁
JJ
April 7, 2012
Scott…the Purley deaf pub usually takes place on 1st Friday of each month but the Good Friday gathering was brought forward a day earlier to Thursday at short notice (I didn’t go though). If you wish to come along to the next one, please leave a message on the blog and one of the Purley lads will confirm it. Cheers
Scott
April 7, 2012
Aah, so that’s why. I wondered if I’d been laid a false trail to keep me and all other Deaf non-locals away! Thanks for the tip-off JJ. Are you able to confirm it’s the Foxley Hatch pub they meet up in? Cheers! 🙂
Robin Carpenter
May 25, 2012
I am interesting to learn more about where is Purley deaf pub at.. I am deaf americian. I ‘d love to go to visit uk and make new deaf friends there soon.