BALLS, Mr – East Harling
Two newspaper reports (1897 and 1900) mention a Mr Balls playing the dulcimer at the annual dinner for the area’s police force: ‘Mr. Balls gave some dulcimer solos and accompanied the songs.’ (Norwich Mercury 17 February 1900).
This could possibly be John James Balls (1881-1961) who in 1901 was working as a blacksmith in Hingham and living just a few houses away from the Cooper family of renowned dulcimer players (see Billy Cooper and his father Frederick, below). He went on to work in the Metropolitan police in London and returned to Snettisham in Norfolk before his death.
At present, genealogical research does not suggest any other possibilities.
All material on this website is copyright. Anyone wishing to quote or use this original research should credit it to Katie Howson and cite this website as the source. Please see our Terms and Conditions page for more information, and do contact me if you wish to use any of the contents in any way. Thank you.