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..\..\SOUND\BULT1.WAVThe Sand Artist

Fred Bultitude, from row 109, acquired a pitch beside the jetty. A small fence screened the pitch in. No-one taught him how to model. Some he actually made at night, some such as "Christ with the cross" he was unable to make in the day. Models could take 8 hours to make, and during the day he had to be able to take a collection. A tank of water was kept so as to spray the sand occasionally; at first a younger lad, Ernie Brown assisted with the water. Latterly Fred's son was to assist. Fred started this occupation at the age of 17, and in the winter he was able to work in a fish -house. This was one opposite to the "Silver Herring". Only two men were there full time. One day they went on strike and sat in the pub. They succeeded in their demand for £5 a week raised from £3-17s. Fred was a good worker and his boss didn't really wish to lose him. Later in winter he made gas gloves at Johnson's factory on the Denes. After the war another man competed with him on the beach for attention. This other sand artist tended to do wartime scenes, which Fred thinks people would rather have forgotten at that time. Fred continued with his most popular set pieces including Edith Cavell, Bluebird, horses, and new items such as Popeye and Mickey Mouse. The sculptures were created by digging up a huge mound of damp sand, and then sculpting free hand and by eye, with a wooden knife. Once created, a sculpture might be on show for perhaps two weeks, with just the detail re-sculpted on a daily basis.

Fred suffered polio as a very young child, and only learned to walk with the aid of a bicycle. (see also Row 109 for more about Fred and his family Row 109)

this is only wet sand, with no artificial aids

Fred’s representation of Donald Campbell’s Bluebird

sand sculpture of Edith Cavell

Fred’s “Prone Horse”, - sand and seawater only!

“Goodbye Pal”, representation of 1st World War scene, Fred seen at work on the right.