BIO

Ben Bulpitt was a true son of Norwood.  His father ran a grocery store on The Parade for 25 years and Ben regularly attended St Giles' Presbyterian Church at the southern end of Norwood Oval, in later years becoming an elder and Sunday school teacher there.

His father, Benjamin Blake Bulpitt, was a son of James Bulpitt, who arrived in Adelaide in the ship Lloyds in 1838 and started a business in Hindley Street, attracting attention by advertising his wares in verse.  Before becoming a city grocer, B. B. Bulpitt spent many years in the bush and once encountered the notorious bushranger Dan Morgan, who compelled him at the point of a revolver to ride five miles with him to Wallandool station where he bailed up all hands.

Young Ben was born in Adelaide on 16 January 1874 to B. B. Bulpitt and his first wife, the former Mary Hammond.  Twice married, B. B. Bulpitt left five sons and three daughters when he walked into the Torrens and drowned on 24 February 1924.

Unconfirmed records suggest that Ben may have played for an unsettled Norwood in 1898, when the club finished third and South Adelaide reigned supreme.  Ben had more success as a tennis player with St Giles' in the Presbyterian Tennis Association.  He married Helen Gilchrist at St Giles' in 1900.  Helen's father, Robert, was a founder of St Giles' and her Scottish-born mother Margaret was a foundation member.

Ben Bulpitt ran an upholstery factory.  He was 78, and a widower residing at Payneham, when he died on 28 December 1952

P Robins June 2019