Billy Purvis (Scottish showman)

His life is very well documented; his act was regularly mentioned in newspaper articles, for instance a detailed account, including a brief biography, of his performance at Newcastle Races.

[2][3] Although he could read and write, Purvis speaks in the biography of having a letter written for him by a stationer; so it is not surprising that his 'autobiography' was ghostwritten, by J.P. Robson.

At the age of 10 he became a drummer for a militia regiment, "The Newcastle Loyal Independent Gentlemen Volunteers" despite the initial opposition of his parents, who feared he would be transferred to another unit and sent to fight.

He began his independent career as a comic actor, at first as an amateur, staging plays at "The George and Dragon", a public house in Gateshead, and in other venues.

Even in straight plays, he would add comic business, for instance once making his character refusing to die when the script required it; such antics got a good reaction, and his career as a clown developed from this.

Also about this time, he began working as a dancing master, first teaching a group of butchers, who planned to hold a ball, then subsequently running three classes a night, in a room attached to a public house.

In 1815, in celebration of the victory at Waterloo, he paraded an effigy of Napoleon, mounted on a galloway, around Hexham, Corbridge and Warden, before hanging him and burning him - "he was suen a' brunt to ashes".

At some point after this, was hired to play the drum, and find a clarinettist, for an equestrian performance given by a Mr. Powell, at Stagshawbank Fair, near Corbridge.

The tour continued through Northumberland, including Bedlington, where he became acquainted with Thomas Hair, and on to Edinburgh, and he returned to Hexham some four months after leaving.

He visited Bedlington,[6] where he played the closing part of an entertainment at the Northumbrian piper and fiddler Thomas Hair's public house, the Blue Bell.

The pipes were an important part of his act: "When we arrived at any place, and could procure a large room in the locality suited to our purposes, we played what we termed 'inside business', which comprised my wonderful exhibitions of conjurations, comic singing and recitations, hornpipe dancing; together with the great attraction of my union pipes."

He informed me, that he was a great admirer of the instrument.... My pipes were in beautiful tune, and I succeeded in making a favourable impression on the minds of my delighted and complimentary company.

The beautiful harmony produced; the sweet and melancholy appealings of the upper notes, and the subdued tones of the chanters, render the Union Pipes infinitely superior to the Scotch bagpipe; the screaming.

screeching, tearaway yells of which, resemble the wild wailings of some angry hurricane or, to use a more humble figure, the caterwauling of a thousand ill-conditioned cats."

[7] In 1849, as an old man, saying "my strength begins to fail", "he gave material into the hands of Mr. J. P. Robson to write his autobiography, paying him £20 for the undertaking.

It was first issued in twopenny numbers, and went like wildfire, the first buyer being Mr. W. Campbell, bootmaker, Dean Street, who requested Purvis to write his autograph in it.

Robson was careful to write in his subject's own voice; the style of Purvis's distinctive stage patter would have been very recognisable to his fans.

Six and a half years later, a stone was erected to mark the grave, the cost being met by the proceeds of a benefit performance given by Messrs. Sanger's company.

In 1875, the second biography, published by T. Arthur, appeared, stating "At this time (1875) Mrs. Purvis, in her 89th year, still lives, and is to be found at the Jesus Hospital, Manors, Newcastle.

In 1886, in Tynemouth, there was a "Grand Revival of the Original BILLY PURVIS'S Show", featuring "20 Star Variety Artistes, Military Band, and Dancing.

Comedian Joe Ging recreated Billy Purvis in the 1980s,[16] and the costume is now held by the Tyne & Wear Museum Service.

[17] Since 2009, Billy Purvis has been re-enacted at carnivals and fetes, including Houghton Feast in Houghton-le-Spring, by local historian Paul Lanagan.