plymuff

PatDunne wrote:

I live pretty close to Plymuff railway station and can hear the siren every Monday morning at 11.30, however i consider the term 'Janner' to be derogatory.........

Term Janner is a strange beast but I had a strange encounter here in Sherborne, North Dorset when watching an England game live in my local pub - anyhow a bloke who is an artist in this area was at the bar next to me and telling him I came from Plymouth he just said oh a Janner then and when onto tell me an interesting tale of its origins. He had lived and worked on the water near Cremyl ferry on the 70's and was told that the term came from the 17th? century when an influx of Dutch sailors worked in our docks in general and the locals couldnt recall the strange names so they were tarred with the name Jan, later elongated to Janner. Ok, I'm sure there are many other reasonable answers to this.

Frank Bullitt wrote:

As we all know Plymouth is made up of 3 towns, Plymouth,  Stonehouse and Plymouth Dock (Devonport).

Stonehouse and Devonport became part of Plymouth in 1914 and we became a city in 1928.

I wonder when the siren was first used in the dockyard? And was it audible in Plymouth (not Stonehouse or Devonport)?

Could hear it in Peverell, also fog horns.

Bandwagon wrote:

PatDunne wrote:

I live pretty close to Plymuff railway station and can hear the siren every Monday morning at 11.30, however i consider the term 'Janner' to be derogatory.........

Term Janner is a strange beast but I had a strange encounter here in Sherborne, North Dorset when watching an England game live in my local pub - anyhow a bloke who is an artist in this area was at the bar next to me and telling him I came from Plymouth he just said oh a Janner then and when onto tell me an interesting tale of its origins. He had lived and worked on the water near Cremyl ferry on the 70's and was told that the term came from the 17th? century when an influx of Dutch sailors worked in our docks in general and the locals couldnt recall the strange names so they were tarred with the name Jan, later elongated to Janner. Ok, I'm sure there are many other reasonable answers to this.

I agree...

I cannot think of anything worse than being called a "Janner", and hopefully being Cornish, I do not qualify?

Being called a Janner is like being called a worzel!

I am proud to be called a Janner, particualy as I was born in North Devon. Always thought it referred to Jan Stewer in Widdecombe Fair.

I heard a similar tale to the one Bandy recounts, having been in the RN for 32 years it was pretty common when i first joined to call the Dockyard workers, Jan Docky.... another version is it means lives by the sea, but that would qualify a large proportion of the Country, IMO it ranks alongside Chav as an insult.......

I'm called Ian, loads of the old boys on sites would call me Jan, never heard them do it to people called John though. I would never get offended being called a Janner, same as Scouse or Cockney its just a regional thing, however I think the national view of a Janner is quite often someone from Devon or Cornwall not specifically Muff.

PatDunne wrote:

I heard a similar tale to the one Bandy recounts, having been in the RN for 32 years it was pretty common when i first joined to call the Dockyard workers, Jan Docky.... another version is it means lives by the sea, but that would qualify a large proportion of the Country, IMO it ranks alongside Chav as an insult.......

Sounded plausible with the Dutch thing as many first names in Denmark & Low Countries can be Jan - seem to remember he said an influx of sailors/dock workers due to a war culling our own home grown ones. Oh well we just have to live with the tag!!

Virtually all of my family have at various points in their lives moved away from Plymouth, be it to study or work. One thing they all agree on is that having moved away, you appreciate the city a whole lot more when you come back.

Hilarious ! [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

My dear old grandad(RIP) served for many years in the Royal Navy and I distinctly remember him telling me that despite being called Alfred, everywhere he went as soon as people found out he was from Plymouth he was referred to as Jan. I don't find the term janner at all insulting and everytime I hear it a split-second image of old Alfie sitting on the barrel of a gigantic ships gun surrounded by his shipmates from a faded old picture I have flashes up before my eyes and brings a nostalgic smile to my face. We Janners should embrace the term with pride and affection like our black brothers have with the N word. What say you Jannaz