Employed to keep things
clean in Krazy Town, Sid the Street-Sweeper made his first,
uncredited appearance in Krazy dated 01 October 1977, where he was
seen clearing away the detritus during the coda to Cheeky's typically hoary
Knock-Knock Door gag.
Sid wasn't seen again in the pages of Krazy until its final issue dated 15 April 1978, but he was present in the inaugural edition of Cheeky's own title, which was published just 3 weeks after the comical cleansing operative made his Krazy debut.
It has to be said that Sid wasn't the most diligent refuse collector – he was always looking for an opportunity to sweep rubbish under cars, down drains, beneath loose paving slabs or into any suitable below-ground-level aperture including those frequented by Manhole Man and, in the 31 December 1977 edition, into his mother-in-law's front garden.
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| Sid's debut - Krazy 01 October 1977 Art: Frank McDiarmid |
Sid wasn't seen again in the pages of Krazy until its final issue dated 15 April 1978, but he was present in the inaugural edition of Cheeky's own title, which was published just 3 weeks after the comical cleansing operative made his Krazy debut.
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| First issue of Cheeky Weekly Art: Frank McDiarmid |
It has to be said that Sid wasn't the most diligent refuse collector – he was always looking for an opportunity to sweep rubbish under cars, down drains, beneath loose paving slabs or into any suitable below-ground-level aperture including those frequented by Manhole Man and, in the 31 December 1977 edition, into his mother-in-law's front garden.
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| Frank again This gag references world champion show jumper David Broome |
Sid was among the
guests at the Cheeky family's New Year party in the 07 January 1978
issue, and was the source of the Mystery Comic (secreted under his
hat, not in his rubbish barrow) in Cheeky Weekly dated 28 January
1978. The 29 April 1978 edition was the issue to feature the most appearances by Sid,
who turned up on 4 days as he handed Cheeky pages of the Mystery
Comic that he came upon during his cleaning rounds. Since at that
time readers had yet to witness the whole of that perplexing
publication, Cheeky was anxious to secure that week's Mustapha Million story, and fortunately we were spared 2 blank pages as
Sid located the vital elements on Friday. However, this time the pages
were found at the bottom of his refuse collecting bin, but that week's MM story showed no
sign of grubbiness when printed in the comic.
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| Sid prevents the Cheeky Weekly editor from hurling himself off IPC's headquarters building Art: Jim Watson |
In the course of Cheeky's Week as depicted in the comic dated 06
May 1978 Herman the Traffic Warden, in his pursuit of the world
parking ticket record, apparently stuck several penalty notices on
Sid's barrow, although we only witnessed this happening on Friday.
Herman would also gleefully affix a ticket on Sid's barrow during
Cheeky's trip to the seaside in the 08 September 1979 issue.
Sid provided Cheeky with the Cheeky's Pal Puzzle in the 11 November 1978 edition, and the map that was the subject of the poser two weeks later.
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| The first panel has us wondering why Sid is standing in for the Knock-Knock Door - the punchline explains why More Frank |
The mirthful muck
manager made a single appearance on the cover when, on the front of
the 17 February 1979 issue, he was featured as a member of the
Joke-Box Jury panel.
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| Cheeky Weekly 22 December 1979 - the toothy funster's handing out his Christmas cards...the only appearance of Sid's wife. Art: Mike Lacey |
The streets of Krazy Town must have been accumulating rubbish during Sid's longest absence from the comic - 13 weeks between the issues dated 09 June and 08 September 1979 (the aforementioned occasion of Herman's issuing a parking ticket while on the promenade). Maybe on his return Sid found the strain of clearing the massed refuse a little too taxing, because his second-longest absence occurred not long after – the 12 weeks between the 29 September and 22 December 1979 editions.
Our litter-gathering chum was the subject of the Pin-Up Pal poster in the comic dated 08 April 1978.
Sid didn't quite make
it to the final edition of Cheeky Weekly – his appearance in the 05
January 1980 comic was to be his last, having swept through a total of
56 issues.
| Character | Total Issues | First Appearance | Final Appearance |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | 56 | 22-Oct-1977 | 05-Jan-1980 |
Count of elements by artist
| Character | Artist | Total Elements |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | Frank McDiarmid | 22 |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | Frank McDiarmid pencils | 16 |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | Mike Lacey | 7 |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | Barrie Appleby | 6 |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | Jim Watson | 5 |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 | 3 |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | Dick Millington | 2 |
| Sid the Street-Sweeper | Not known | 1 |
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