FOR five heady days in the mid-1990s, Southport became laughter central as it welcomed a truly extraordinary gathering.
It was spring 1995 and the resort was chosen by the World Clown Association for its five-day convention – with japery and jokes aplenty as around 400 performers from more than 10 countries packed into the Floral Hall.

Onlookers flocked to see the performers, such as this one on Chapel Street

The coup, which attracted national and even international media attention, was due in no small measure to the “northern grit” of a partnership between a leading clown and a tourism chief from Southport.
Sandgrounder Arthur Pedlar corr has performed as a clown for almost 60 years, treading stages from Scandinavia to Japan and Israel to Australia.
As British President of the World Clown Association in 1995, Mr Pedlar teamed up with Phil King, then Sefton Council’s chief tourism and attractions officer, to bring its convention to Southport.
“There were clown classes and demonstrations, and 30 to 40 traders in the Floral Hall,” remembered Mr Pedlar, now 75.

Orville the Duck came along for a laugh

Mr King said: “We went across to Orlando in the USA where the (previous) World Clown Convention was being held, and with the help of the British Tourist Authority, sold Southport to them.
“Southport was the ideal place, because of Lord Street, Southport Theatre and the Floral Hall complex. And despite the jet-lag we convinced them to bring it here. It took a bit of northern grit and humour, but thankfully I didn't have to put on a red nose.”
Large parts of Southport town centre were transformed into a circus for the week, with the unforgettable sight of shoppers mingling with delegates.

Clowning around on the dodgems at Pleasureland

“It was a classic Southport event,” said Mr King. “Clowns were walking along Chapel Street, Eastbank Street and Lord Street. There were tall clowns, large clowns, clowns with spinning hoops. It was an extremely colourful event.”
Mr Pedlar added: “The big thing was the gala show on the Saturday, with clowns from Russia, Denmark, Sweden, the States and the UK. There were eleven hundred people in the Floral Hall for it!”
Mr Pedlar’s status in the clown world is huge. In 1953 his clown creation Vercoe joined a troupe at Cirque Medrano in Paris for a nine- month season, which saw him work with legendary US comic actor Buster Keaton.
He is president of the Circus School of Israel, which joins Jewish and Arab children together in learning performance skills. Mr Pedlar has also been instrumental in raising thousands of pounds to renovate a derelict arts centre for use as the school’s headquarters.
Such was the 1995 convention’s success that Southport hosted a second clown event later in the decade, with treasured comedian Norman Wisdom as guest of honour.
Mr King said: “Norman Wisdom is one of the world’s most famous clowns and he sang ‘Don’t Laugh at Me Because I’m a Fool’ at the opening ceremony.”

The opening ceremony of Southport’s second clowns convention of the 1990s. On the left is Phil King. From the centre, going left, are the then Mayoress of Sefton Valerie Francis, Norman Wisdom and Mayor of Sefton 1996-7, the late Cllr Terry Francis

Do you remember when Southport became a circus for a week? Leave your memories of the 1995 World Clown Convention below.

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