Whilst visiting a friend in Clerkenwell, east London recently, I met Jolly Jack the clown who very kindly showed me his cuttings book and told me a bit about his career. He was resting up as he’d recently tripped over the edge of a non-slip mat at a circus and broken his leg. This chance meeting reminded me of a visit I’d once made to an annual Grimaldi memorial service held at All Saints Church, Haggerston, also in east London, where I photographed some of the clowns’ amazing footwear.
Actually I find clowns in their make-up rather unnerving, but love the shoes, including some in one of my earliest children’s books, Robotina Finds Out published by Faber & Faber.
Jolly Jack’s shoes weren’t enormous, but they did have extraordinary flashing lights.
