Billy Bluelight

Billy Bluelight pseudonym of William Cullum. (Born 1859/1863? Norwich- died 1949 Shipmeadow, Suffolk). A much loved legendary figure in Norwich and well known for his races against steam pleasure boats between the wars beside the rivers Wensum and Yare.

Cullum was born in the slums of his home city of Norwich. He never received a formal education, but he did however teach himself to read. He worked briefly at Caley's chocolate factory and by 1907 he was already legendary for his racing and street selling activities.

He never married and lived with his mother, until her death. They lived at several addresses in the city including Oak Street, Colegate and Pkyerell House at St Mary's Plain. After his mother's death around 1930 he was reported to have entered Woodlands, part of the West Norwich Hospital. By the 1940s he was living at Palmer Road on the Mile Cross Estate which was built between the wars. In his eighties he entered the West Norwich Hospital and was later moved to St James Hospital at Shipmeadow, Suffolk where he died in 1949.

Five years after his death, writer R L Potter wrote this description of him:

Many theories have been put forward to how he received his name. In 1907, a reference was made to the 'bluelight' of his eloquence; another suggestion was that of his blue nose in winter, or that he sold blue-tipped matches.

'Bluelight' was also a Victorian term for teetotaller or temperance worker. Although he spoke out against the dangers of alcohol, there is no evidence to prove that this was the case.

There are several reminders of him in the Norwich area.

The Crude Apache theatre company produced a play about his life, entitled "Nature's Gentleman - The Story of Billy Bluelight"

Close to the Woods End Inn in Bramerton, a life-size statue has been erected in his memory on the Wherryman's Way long-distance footpath.

In 1994 Woodforde’s Brewery renamed their outlet The Freemasons Arms in Hall Road, Norwich to The Billy Bluelight. Since March, 2005, and after a change of ownership, the pub has now reverted to its former name.

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Wikipedia