John L. Chipperfield

Johnny Chipperfield (1921–1978) was a rider, clown and animal trainer.[69] John L., was the son of Richard Chipperfield (born 1875) and Maud née Seaton. Johnny Chipperfield was the younger brother of Dick, Maud, Jimmy and Marjorie.

Johnny Chipperfield trained a Welsh pony to do tricks, as a boy, then trained a monkey to jockey on him. At age twelve bought his first ring horse and became a rider and clown with the family show. He spent the 1937 season, with the Chipperfield's animals, on Sweden's Circus Scott, where his riding was encouraged by Rudi Blumenfeld. Johnny married Doris Morche, a member of a German springboard troupe.[3]

During the second world war he served with the RAF. He was demobilized on the day the family circus was due to open, at Southampton for the 1946 season. Johnny Chipperfield is the father of John, Tommy, Doris, Charles (married Keren, in 1988) and Sophie. John worked with the animals and helped manage the Circus. Doris worked with horses. Charles took care of the mechanical machines at the Circus. Sophie performed in a number of acts.[70]

He presented the dogs, performed a comedy ride as 'Madame Spangaletti' and clowned with his brother Jimmy. Noted for his dog act, as 'Kelly', with Chipperfield's Circus, 1938–39. He appeared at the Tom Arnold's Mammoth Circus, Harringay, 1949–50 and 1950–51 seasons, and with Chipperfield's circus, in 1950, exhibiting 'Paul's Peerless Poodles'.[3][71]

In 1951, he exhibited a high school riding show, at the Southend-on-Sea Kursaal circus. In 1952 he was presented Golden Palaminos, at Chipperfield's circus. His son John jr. was born on 20 July 1953. He was a horse trainer for Chipperfield's circus, from the 1950s on wards, he performed with Doreen Duggan in 1953. He performed with Chipperfield's, in Plymouth in 1954. During the mid-1950s began working with the Chipperfield elephants. He performed with Chipperfield's circus, at the Bingley Hall, Birmingham in 1957–58, exhibiting horses, ponies, elephants and chimpanzees. He accompanied his brother Dick and sister Marjorie to South Africa for the Chipperfield tour of Southern Africa 1965–1967 and returned to the UK 1968. Starting in 1970, he traveled with Chipperfields Circus in the UK training and presenting Asian & African elephants, horses, lions, tigers and dogs. He on died 13 November 1978 from leukaemia.

English Wikipedia