Circus Chipperfield in United Kingdom
| Collection | Kept totally 37, 0 present (0,0,0), 0 births, 31 relocated, 6 deaths | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Location | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | circus | ||||||||||||||||||||
The acquisition of a large group of elephants from Sri Lanka after World-War II established Circus Chipperfield among the biggest circuses in England. The main branch of the family running the circus was Dick Chipperfield (who died at the age of 83 in 1988) and his brother Jimmy.
and five elephants later sold to the Government of Borneo in 1951: 1948: 21 elephants at Tom Arnold show at Harringay (London) in 1948. 1948: In the winter of 1948, Rosie Chipperfield (wife of Jimmy) went to Sri Lanka and brought back another 8 elephants (including two bulls) Freda 1949: 29 elephants 1951: 5 of the biggest elephants were sold to the Government of Borneo in 1951: unknown name, unknown name, unknown name, unknown name and unknown name. 1952: 24 elephants:
Between 1952 and 1953, 8 elephants left the circus: 3 elephants (2 bulls + 1 cow) went to Fossett’s in Ireland. These 3 + 2 bull elephants were sold to Russia via Chipperfields. They were the act originally known as the "Banda 5" (aka "Band of five" = males Banda, Shandra & Blackie = females May & Jane - male Jimmy later replaced Jane), which Ivor Rosaire worked on Circus Mikkeni (sp?) in Holland and other shows in Sweden, Germany and Belgium in the early 1950s. Paulo’s Circus bought one called Baby, which went onto Robert Brothers and eventually died in Ireland . Two others died. 1953: Chipperfields Circus ousted rivals Bertram Mills and Billy Smart and boasted a big-top tent which could accommodate 6,000 people. It had a collection of 200 horses, 16 elephants and 200 other animals. 1953-1956: another 3 elephants left the circus, total numbers 13? 1956: Chipperfield toured Ireland with 12 elephants pictured at Clonmel railway station, Co.Tipperary. (Mabel became unaccountably lame when touring Ireland. Sent home to winterquarters in Stockbridge, reducing the group to 12.)  1956-1963: One elephant must have died or been sold.. 1963: The elephant Mary was used in Rome, in the film Cleopatra, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. 1963-08-24: 8 elephants went on RBBB european tour: Cita, Rani, May, Suzie, Jennie, Dinah, Dahlia, and Mable. 1963 September: Mary, Camella, Lelia and Sally were the 4 that stayed with the circus. 1963: This makes a total of 12 elephants. 1963: A new import of 5 elephants: Jane, Carol, Marjorie, Anna and Maryann.(Maryann was re-named Dorothy) 1964-05-12: 8 elephants went on tour with Trolle Rhodins Circus Caravan in Scandinavia: Cita, Rani, May, Suzie, Jennie, Dinah, Dalia, and Mable.  John L. Chipperfield assisted by Jim Stockley, on tour in South Africa, 1965. 1965-1967: Chipperfields Circus toured Southern Africa, and returned to the UK 1968. 5 elephants from this tour was sold to zoos in South Africa, among them Dorothy/Maryanne, who was 1984 sold back to Brian Boswell Circus, Anna and Marjorie were both sold to Vereeniging zoo, and Carol and Jane were both sold to Springs Zoo.  South West India Docks, 1968: Four elephants returning from a Chipperfields Circus tour of South Africa. Left to Right: Sally, Lelia, Mary and Camella in the sling. The man with stick is John L Chipperfield.. 1967?: three older elephants sold: Dina, Dalia, and Mable. 1968 in November: 5 elephants sold to Ringlings in USA, were shipped from Hamburg with the Swedish ship “Atlantic Saga”: Cita, Rani, May, Suzie and Jennie. 1969: Old Camella (Kamala) died. 1969-1971: A new juveniel elephant bought, named Camella. 1972: A new group of small elephant arrived from Bangalore: Mohini, Minoti and Manju. 1973: A new import, bought from Brian Williams at Tysely Pet Stores: Lechmee, Mina (Meena), Lisa, Sophie. 1975: Young Camella joined Lechmee, Meena, Sophie, Lisa as a group of 5 that Doreen Duggan took to Elfi Altoff in Austria in 1975. 1975-1979: Was Sophie, Lisa sold or died during those years? 1979: Manju, Mohini, Minoti were sold to Ashtons in Australia April 1979 but never made it because the ship made landfall in Durban and voided the veterinary requirements. Minoti is now at Brian Boswell circus. 1979: The circus had a fire accident, and Sally and Lilia died from the result of a fire later. Jimmys older brother Dick Chipperfield continued with the Circus, his son Dick Chipperfield took over the Circus, with his sons Richard and Graham. 1994-1999: Camella, Lechmee, Mina (Meena) went to America with Graham Thomas Chipperfield. After 1999: The last elephants Camella, Lechmee and Mina (Meena) were sold to Circus Medrano (Cirque Medrano) in Spain. Sources, among others
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