Wally (anonymous)

Wally is a British English expression referring to a "silly or inept person",^[1] which later developed into an umbrella term for "vulnerable individuals".^[2]

It is thought to have originated at a pop festival in the late 1960s or early 1970s; many sources suggest the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. An audience member named Walter (Wally) went to buy food for his friends and was unable to find them in the crowd when he tried to return. His friends called out "Wally" but he remained bemused, lost in the crowd. Others people started to shout Wally for a joke (at his expense) and the chant spread all the way through the crowd. Random shouts of "Wally" were subsequently heard at rock concerts all over Britain.^[3] It was still being called out at the 1979 Led Zeppelin Knebworth Concerts.^[4]

The information above is almost correct but a true account of an encounter with Wally and his American pals can now be found at Where's Wally? Isle of Wight, 1970. He and his girlfriend went to get some beer about midday on Saturday 29th August and didn't return until Monday morning. It started early Saturday afternoon when one or two people behind started to mimic the American accent of a female from the remaining group who was calling out "Where's Wally?" and "Has anyone seen Wally?" The chants gradually spread around us until the whole crowd joined in. There were even announcements made on the stage.

In 1974 a group of new age travellers were encamped near Stonehenge, and to help hinder the process of eviction by the landowners, all gave their name as Wally of Wessex,^[5] "Wally being a conveniently anonymous umbrella for vulnerable individuals".^[2]

See also

• John Doe
• Karen Eliot
• Open pop star