Fletcher, James

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Fletcher, James

Portrait of James Fletcher or 'Blind Jim'.

Research - known as Jem Fletcher or Blind Jim. Aged 83 when painted. Born in Leeds. Moved to Bradford in 1825. Was an original Christmas Waits, a group of blind musicians who played around Christmas and were linked together by a large pole and led by a guide or leader. From "Pen & Pencil pictures of Old Bradford" by Wm Scruton (1889). 'The oldest company of Waits in Bradford was formed about ten years before the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832. In the year 1829, Mr. E.C.Lister and Mr. Matthew Thompson, who sat as magistrates at the "Spotted House", Manningham Lane, gave permission to one Samuel Smith, otherwise "Blind Sam", to form a company of Waits for the town. Sam was not long in finding three other associates (all blind) who were willing to join in the enterprise, and another (who was not blind) to act as guide. The names of Sam's blind companions were Jim Fletcher, Billy Blazeby and Jack Dodge. Furnished with musical instruments, and all tied to a pole, except the guide, they began their nightly perambulations, making music that could hardly be called sweet, but which linked with the festive season of Christmas and other interesting associations, was always welcome, especially to the young, who liked nothing better than to tumble out of bed to have "just one peep" at the odd procession as it passed along the street.' The original Waits (Old waits) were replaced by a new band. Fletcher then went solo playing his fiddle on the street and in pubs. He had married a blind woman when he moved to Bradford and they were married for 43 years until she died - he remarried.

Creator

John Sowden

Image filename

sowden-215