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 in the 1920/30s along the River Wensum and River Yare.[1]
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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
| “ | That over-worked term 'natures gentleman' was never better exemplified than in the gentle, unpretentious character called Billy Bluelight. It may seem astonishing that a humble little man could imprint his personality so widely on a large city, but it was so. | ” |
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—R L Potter |
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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 of his blue nose in winter or that he sold blue-tipped matches. Blue light was the 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 including the Crude Apache theatre company that produced a play about his life entitled "Natures Gentleman-The Story of Billy Bluelight" [2]
Close to the Woods End Inn, 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 to The Billy Bluelight. Since March, 2005, after a change of ownership the pub is now known by its former name.[3]
Slight and wiry and dressed in long white shorts, cricket cap, plimsolls and medals on his chest. He would issue his challenge to pleasure boat passengers that he would beat them to their destination. Setting off, walking and running, he would be waiting to meet the boats at the next landing stage to receive acclamation and pennies of his admirers. On the return journey he would regale day-trippers with the following rhyme
| “ | My name is Billy Bluelight, my age is 45, I hope to get to Carrow Bridge before the boat arrive. | ” |
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—Billy Bluelight |
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He is said to have remained '45' for many years.