Peter Bendall

I was invited to join the "big show" of the "Anglo-American" Circus who had just completed work on Disney's Three Lives of Thomasina at Pinewood Studios.

Actually, I started going with the Anglo.American Circus about ten months before the Three-Lives of Thomasina. In fact it was at the end of the season before last. I met 'Count Lazard' at the tober, which was at the head of the town at Bury St Edmunds. The far northern end of the town before the Semi Motorway, A14, was constructed was rural - Thetford Chase and a seldom used railway to Thetford. The circus used a farmers field to show in the canvas tent because they couldn't afford a better tober!
The show began with a fanfare - Fanfare for a Dignified Occasion, the stilt waking presentation, and the funny animals presentation, being done by the young people of Bury!

The show continued, in some order that I can't remember! A Chimpanzee act I do remember, and a Lion act performed by William Lazard - with the rider that the act was "performed in the minimum space." A cat and half in all directions - He said! The act was "en_doucer" of course! He loved the Simba, and I came to love her also.
I remember the cage was seven segments along, and I, later, would be able to unrig the cage by myself, under the watchful eye of the ringmaster, who was doing the patter of a Clown act.

Another time, we were visiting a tober at the east of Christchurch Harbour, a farmers field to the remote side of Mudeford! The circus were the victim of a blowdown and were showing without a tent! I expected that they were downhearted, but they were not, especially as the tent was not repairable!
You see, the Jimmy Chipperfield family were going to the circus when they heard that a blow down had occurred. They thought of Disney, who were seeking a Circus that can spiel in the open air, made a connection, and Anglo American would be Targu's Circus for a period!
I am sure that the Circus were relieved! I was engaged on the spot for a fortnight!

I was invited to the Film Studios, in actual purpose to drive a load, since they would have to do two or three journeys otherwise! In Black Park, a woodland area between Pinewood Studios and Slough, we attempted to do an open air build up in the heights above the open space.
We, first, set out a 42 foot, 13 meter, ring (as opposed to a 9 to 10 meter ring that we used to have.) Then we set up High Gallery seating, and round that a fencing comprised with the spare walling! We parked the four wheeled Beast Wagons to the east, and the Gypsy Wagons - provided by the film people - were arranged between. Our own Living Wagons were arranged in the parking space, a car ride away! We have to go there if we want to Muck Out, or Feed, the animals...

The first routine was performed by the equestrian act, which was definately wasn't 'in house!' They were a lady and three(?) men. It was a Continental Act, to which I have not got a clue of what they are called, despite sitting through hour after hour of google search engine matches.... It was good, with the perfection of the continental act of that time! Have you any idea what they are called? (It was 1962, give or take 2 years!)

I stayed for some weeks, sufficient to miss the pull down!