Bertram Mills Circus 1930's Photos

[John915]

Good evening Brian,

I've had a look and can't decide one way or the other.BM saw him in Berlin at circus Busch and persuaded him to come to England. He and his wife arrived in 1929 and the rest is history as they say. The other person who appears in every photo but one is the chap with glasses and watch chain, so again might be fairly important.
I hav'nt seen those pictures since before I left home at 15 1/2 yrs. A lot has happened in the intervening 45 yrs, and I didn't find them when I cleared my mothers house.

John915

[danjake]

John the man you mention has been identified to me as Charles Leighton.

I did some research and discovered that he joined Bertram Mills as their Advance Booking Manager in 1930. During the war he served with E.N.S.A. and rejoined Bertram Mills in early 1946 but died in London later that year on the 27th November 1946 aged 70. An obituary for him in The Billboard dated 28th December 1946 said that he started his career as a vaudeville comedian before becoming best known as an advance agent for the dancer Pavlova.

I have received a few more photos , the first was taken at Newcastle in July 1932 and the second is stamped on the back with the name of an Edinburgh company.

Regards

Brian

[danjake]

These are 2 more of my uncle Robert Crook as a very young man. Anybody recognise the make and model of the vehicles ?

[danjake]

Finally an unidentified couple, bottles of stout in hands ha ha, and one of the white horses being put through his paces.

[John915]

Good evening Brian,

Well, flat cap is not Coco, thats him again in the first of this lot. Sitting on the steps at front and now dressed like the rest. Circus and fairground workers usually had several jobs, perhaps one of his was as a driver when on the move hence the clothing previously.
I will have a look at the vehicles but not good on commercials.

John915

[bennett]

I can't give you any information sadly,
but I would like to say what fabulous photographs,
and such history attached to them.

regards
Bennett

[danjake]

Thanks once again John and your comments much appreciated Bennett.

[mulledwine]

Hi - its definitely not Nicolai / Coco  - the white horse will likely be one of the Liberty Horses and I think that will be Tony Holt training it. His partner Peggy rode them in the shows.

regards

Mark

[danjake]

Thank you Mark I'm very grateful for your interest. I'm still searching the globe for an answer to this family mystery and if you ever come across anything remotely connected to pre war Bertram Mills will you please remember me ?
Kind regards
Brian