Walter Bulwer was a fiddle player, born in Shipdham (Norfolk) in 1888; where he lived all his life. You can read Reg Hall’s profile of Walter and Daisy Bulwer on the EATMT website here.

There is more information on the Bulwers in Chris Holderness’ article here. Something to be aware of if you are relying on old website bookmarks is that the Mustrad website no longer exists. Its content is now available on the Mainly Norfolk website.

Probably the two most popular of Walter’s tunes today are simply know as “Walter Bulwer’s Polka No 2” and “Walter Bulwer’s Polka No 1” – but there are at least four other polka tunes we have from Walter which don’t have names, to say nothing of tunes for other dances. 

Walter was adept at picking up tunes by ear and adapting then as he played – but also owned a good collection of sheet music; sadly now lost. It is very plausible that these un-named polka tunes have origins in that collection of sheet music. Following a conversation between Adrian and Sue Carlton and Geoff Crabb the concertina maker, we are now able to put a name to the tune previously known as “Walter Bulwer’s Polka #5” – “The Cromartie Polka March”.

You can hear Walter, along with Daisy, dulcimer player Billy Cooper and banjo player Edna Wortley playing the tune in around 1960 as track 18 on the CD “Heel and Toe” – published by Veteran ( it’s VT150CD – which is available to buy through Veteran’s bandcamp page ).

EATMT’s “brown book” Before the night was out – by Katie Howson has a transcription of the 1960 recording.

The full score for the Cromartie Polka March composed by “R. Heath” can be found in “Turner’s March Album of Solos for the Banjo #1” – but in case you don’t have a copy of that to hand, then here’s the basic form of the melody – an interesting exercise to compare it with the 1960 recording and it’s transcription. Same tune do you think? I wonder how many of Walter’s other un-named tunes have an origin in a long forgotten piece of sheet music.

Andrew Collins, May 2026