THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

Placed on a pedestal: Captain Clarke and the Pat Collins Lions

Dateline:  4 July 2009

For the first time ever on the internet, the story can now be told of one of the great animal trainers from the grand old days of the circus and the animal shows, days which are now long gone in England and in many other parts of the world.

Thanks to his spirit of adventure, daring and sheer hard work, "Captain" Herbert Clarke of Reading, Leamore and Brownhills via Cape Town, New York and the capitals of Europe, was able to climb the professional ladder from waggon-boy to top lion-tamer, travelling the world, with a host of adventures along the way.

Towards the end of his career, he spent several happy but dangerous and exciting years working with Pat Collins 'The Bloxwich Showman' whose Amusement Empire covered Great Britain in the early 20th century.  One of his furry friends also gave rise to "The Legend of the Bloxwich Lion"...

From this Saturday, for a season, the true story of Captain Herbert Clarke and his lions will appear for the first time on the internet, in a very special Bloxidge Tallygraph illustrated feature.

It's a tale so amazing I could hardly believe it myself as I was writing it up!

Roll up, roll up - and FOLLOW this live and permanent link to:  Pat Collins' Lion Tamer:  The Story of Captain Herbert Clarke!

Special circus music and balloons added to the front page for two days only, to celebrate the story of Captain Clarke.  May not work with some browsers.


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Permanent story link here.

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The man himself and the modern showman's vehicles bearing his name.

Dateline:  12 June 2009

Traction engines, monster trucks, a seaside sand feature, donkeys, and the legendary fun fair which bears his name will pack Walsall Arboretum for a grand celebration of the 150th birthday of “King of Showmen” Pat Collins who made Bloxwich his home in the early 20th century.

WALSALL TOWN SHOW

Walsall Town Show has been organised by Walsall Councillor Anthony Harris and his family and will be held in the park on Saturday and Sunday August 8 and 9.

Vintage lorry displays, fairground organs, a fire service display, Punch & Judy, Smooth Radio roadshow,  marquee exhibition and charity stalls are included in the attractions at the event which will be officially opened by The Mayor of Walsall, Councillor John O’Hare.

Councillor Harris, whose father married one of Pat Collins’ granddaughters, said: “There really is something for everybody and it promises to be a smashing weekend.  We’ve kept admission prices reasonable – a family of four will pay just £10 to get in – and there’s free parking so it’s an affordable treat.  Proceeds will support Walsall Hospice and the Mayor’s chosen causes for blind and deaf people.”

Councillor Harris, who is like Collins a past president of the Showmen’s Guild, added: “I think Pat Collins would approve wholeheartedly if he was still alive today!”

Gates open 10am - 6pm and admission costs £3 for adults and £2 for children and senior citizens.

For further details contact 01543 372820 or 07775 816316.

HISTORIC PAT

Pat Collins, who was born in Chester on 12th May 1859, became one of the most famous British fairground entrepreneurs from the late 19th century up until 1943.  He was also a pioneer of commercial cinema in the Black Country.  His Grosvenor Cinema of 1922, heavily modified internally over the years,  is still in use as a youth centre, The Electric Palace, and is one of the most prominent buildings in Bloxwich High Street.

Pat and his first wife Flora came to Walsall in 1882, later putting down roots in Bloxwich around 1915 when he moved into Limetree House, adjacent to Bloxwich Wakes Ground which became the scene of many a Collins Funfair when it was not touring the country.  Sadly in 1932 Flora Collins passed away.  In 1933 he moved the fair's offices and workshops from Shaw Street, Walsall, to his amusement depot in Bloxwich.  In 1935, Pat married his second wife, Clara.  The same year he sold the Grosvenor and it became an Odeon.

Collins was not only a prominent businessman and entertainer, but he also entered politics and became an influential local Liberal Councillor, representing Birchills Ward on Walsall Council from 1918 to 1930, when he was made Alderman. He was elected Member of Parliament for Walsall from 1922 to 1924. Becoming Mayor of Walsall in 1938, Pat was rightly honoured by being made a Freeman of the Borough of Walsall in 1939, the crowning moment of his political career.

Following his death in 1943 at the age of 84, Pat was buried in Field Road Cemetery, Bloxwich.

Pat's wife Clara  "kept the flag flying" as Pat wanted, until her death in 1962.  The fair continued under the control of the family until 1983 when a set of dodgems, a run of fairs and the name 'Pat Collins Funfairs' - was taken over by Anthony Harris, aleady an established showman in his own right.  He has built it up once more to become the successful business it is today, keeping the legend of Pat Collins alive in a very fitting way.

Permanent story link here.

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The Spotted Cow pub, Wolverhampton Road.  5 July 2009.

The Edditer has now taken on the challenge of picturing a different bit of Bloxwich each day for a year (the series was started on 1 June 2009) and they will be posted here day by day for your interest, weather and health permitting.  Watch this space!

For previous Pix of the Day - see this archive Album, also available in the Centre Spread

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Features in preparation:

• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - the Best and Worst of Bloxwich shop frontages.
• Beer in Blocko - a new series of reviews of those local pubs which are still open!

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