Alain, from Limoges, has sent us the following article. He adds “For fifteen years I really never saw this guy dressed other than in overalls and rubber boots. He is undeniably a “bootman””.

   HE TRAVELS ALONG THE LENGTH AND BREATH OF THE STREETS OF LIMOGES ON A BICYCLE, DRESSED IN OVERALLS WITH A PAIR OF RUBBER BOOTS ON HIS FEET. HE COVERS KILOMETRE AFTER KILOMETRE ON HIS BIKE EVERY DAY. WE MET HIM.

   He is well known… while staying anonymous. For more than thirty years, he travels along the length and breadth of the roads and streets of the area. Everyone passed him at least once on the road, standing on his bike, on the pedals in order to climb the hills, in Limoges, Isle, Palais-sur-Vienne, or Aureil where he lives. Many people wonder who this man with the grey hair is who, no matter what the weather, is always dressed the same...

   Jean-Marc Chatard obviously does not go around unseen. The rain, the wind, the heat does not make any difference : every day of the year, this 60 year old man puts on his overalls and his rubber boots, gets on his bike and goes for a “drive”, as he calls it. The young retired guy leaves for a drive every day. Sometimes he stops at the side of the road and watches the cars or the people, without asking anybody anything. After a few minutes stopped somewhere, he climbs on his bike again, leaves slowly and covers the kilometres.

   Jean-Marc often went to the dances in past times and continues to go to the village fetes “to see the girls”. Obviously dancing in his overalls was not practical. “Before I had a beautiful suit. I was young. Today I don’t wear it any more”. Why today he does not take off his overalls ? It’s a mystery… perhaps he wears them in memory of his work as a mason which he left “about five years ago”. As regards the rubber boots which he wears constantly – summer, autumn, winter, spring – Jean-Marc mentions the practical aspects “I am used to them. When it rains, everything is OK. When it is sunny, it is hot of course. But I prefer to keep my boots on”. Why not ? ...

   Jean-Marc has never passed his driving licence and “adores” his bicycle. “I had a very small car which did not need a licence but someone broke the windscreen in the Champ de Juillet” . He then swapped the car for a moped and finally opted for good for a bike which he has never left. In his discussion, he often evokes his attraction for the Vienne river. “I went to Chabanais, there is the Vienne, there”, he laughs, “and to Confolens too. I leave at midday and I return in the evening."
   Born in Aureil in a house that he lives in with his sister, Jean-Marc Chatard continues every day to journey in his own way… but not without risk. “Cars are awful !” he retorts, as he would wish that everyone adopted his way of life. “They hoot all the time ..."

   Jean-Marc astonishes, surprises and maintains, despite everything, a certain mystery about himself. He is different, remaining in his world. As often this leads to mockery and sometimes to violent reactions. “There are people who annoy me, the real dirty ones ! They hassle me above all in Landouge and Palais-sur-Vienne.” Always smiling, he replies to questions amiably, continuing to live in his own way, outside time. All that he asks is that people stop hassling him when he is riding his bicycle.