The man who gave shape to our city

December 31, 2001

BLYTH ROAD (Angel Road to St Clement's Hill)

AMID the hustle and bustle of Norwich life over a century ago there was a slight man, head down, who was always in a hurry.

Everybody seemed to know this dapper gentleman — described as having a small head and a drooping moustache — as he rushed about the city streets.

He was here, there and everywhere, usually with a bundle of papers under his arm.

Mind you, Ernest Egbert Blyth was a busy man. But he always found the time to stop, have a natter, and hand out advice to others.

In fact, he devoted his life to helping other people less fortunate than himself, at a time when thousands were living in grinding poverty across the city.

For this was a giant of a man who helped to shape the Norwich that we live in today. He was one of the truly great citizens who bridged that enormous gap between those with money and power and those with little or nothing. And he spent his Christmas Day mornings distributing presents to children living in the humble courts and yards off Barrack Street.

When he died at the age of 77, way back in 1934, the Evening News wrote: “No man in his day and generation served the city more nobly and with truer devotion.

“He played a very considerable part in the public, educational and administrative life of Norwich,” we said.

Our tribute went on: “To many, perhaps, he may have seemed somewhat reserved. This, however, was largely a matter of diffidence and nervousness.

“Once you spoke to him, you found a man of great charm and kindliness. Most of the citizens, even if they were not personally acquainted with Dr Blyth, recognised the short, slight figure with the somewhat small head and drooping moustache.

“So often he would be seen hurrying to fulfil his many professional and public engagements. Few men led a busier life,” said the Evening News the day after his death.

Dr Blyth, Norwich born and bred, had the unique honour of being the last Mayor and first Lord Mayor in 1910. He was a brilliant lawyer and a great believer in educating the people. And remember that in those days, thousands of people lived in slums with little chance of getting a decent education.

He served on numerous committees for decades and was highly respected across the city, the county and the country. He spoke words of wisdom and people listened.

This son of a timber merchant was born at St Faith’s Terrace, at St Peter Parmentergate, which was demolished to make way for a Boulton & Paul extension on May 11, 1857.

He trained as a lawyer with WH Tillett & Co in St Andrew’s Street and took a degree at London University. He won several Law Society examination prizes and was a top scholar.

Dr Blyth set up in practice as a solicitor in Norwich and launched himself into public life, first joining the Norwich School Board. He went on to hold every high office in local education. He was chairman of the governors King Edward VI, City of Norwich School, the Blyth School (named after him), the East Anglian School for Blind and Deaf Children, the Norwich High School for Girls and the Notre Dame School for Girls.

Unlike so many others, he took a great personal interest in all schools and a visiting VIP once remarked: “A prince has fallen into the educational life of Norwich. And that prince is Dr Blyth.”

Dr Blyth was a member of the city council for many years and a highly popular first Lord Mayor. He was also a Liberal, a man of peace, a member of the Silver Road Mission who did his best to improve life generally for young people. And, as a profound lover of peace, it was ironical that the task of presiding over the Norwich Tribunal, which had to determine claims for exemptions from service during the First World War, fell to him. So many young men who went off to fight in the bloody battlefields of Europe never returned and for those who did, life would never be the same again.

At Christmas he would distribute gifts to members of the Silver Road Sunday School — they were children from poor families living in appalling conditions in the damp and dingy old courts and yards around Barrack Street. When the old Municipal Secondary School for Girls was transferred to the old Clare House site in 1929 a graceful tribute was paid to Dr Blyth by renaming it The Blyth School.

During the whole of his 55 years as a solicitor in Norwich, Dr Blyth only had 10 days off sick. Married twice, he died of pneumonia at his home, Heigham House, in April 1934 but, thanks to Blyth-Jex School and Blyth Road the name of this extraordinary man lives on. Ernest Egbert Blyth, LLD, BA was a man worth remembering.

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