Comments on: At the 65th Annual Grimaldi Service https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:24:18 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Jean Taylor https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-28024 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:24:18 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-28024 See Hackney Society website for photo of St Bartholemews Vicarage. See their publication ‘Spaces’ Winter/Spring 2011 for article about Clowns Church. In short, I think the answer to your question is ‘no’.

]]> By: Ron Pummell https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-27996 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:01:48 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-27996 Can anybody help me please? Have any of these special clown servives been celebrated at the former church in Dalston Lane at the corner of Graham Road, known locally as ‘Lebons Corner’ ? Ron

]]> By: JerryWh https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-15087 Mon, 09 May 2011 11:15:17 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-15087 I was taken to see the Bertram Mills Circus aged 11 in the early 1960s, in the Wirral I think, and I remember Coco the Clown very well. I enjoyed the whole event but it is the elephants I remember more than anything, now.
I used to work in Pentonville Road and I remember finding Grimaldi Park and discovering that Joseph Grimaldi lived and worked in the area.. I am pleased that such a great entertainer is still remembered and celebrated – keep up the good work!

]]> By: Bubblz the Maths Clown https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-6692 Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:51:14 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-6692 What a wonderful day we all had. It is so wonderful for us to all get together and celebrate clowns past and present once a year. We are all SO different – educational clowns like me, retired clowns, colourful clowns, caring clowns, part time clowns, retired clowns, hobby clowns and clowns for just a day. Dance dance, wherever we may be!!!!

]]> By: valer dellakeza https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-6678 Sun, 20 Feb 2011 13:51:10 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-6678 super!!!

]]> By: Zeph https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-6015 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:03:00 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-6015 Rafiqa, Grimaldi’s father was notoriously anti-religious but his mother might have had him christened. I don’t think being illegitimate was any barrier to being baptised, only to legal things like inheritance. I believe Grimaldi was married in church, twice.

He is a fascinating character and had lots of other talents besides being a clown. The best book about him is the one by Richard Findlater, which is out of print but can be found second-hand.

]]> By: melbournegirl https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-5956 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:40:02 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-5956 Michael Slater’s biography of Charles Dickens mentions that he travelled to London as a child with his family to see Grimaldi performing – the image of a young Charles clapping his hands with ‘great precocity’ charms me. He later, Slater adds, edited Grimaldi’s memoirs.

]]> By: sheila theobald https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-5953 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:30:28 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-5953 I have loved clowns since i was a tiny child and remember my 5th birthday at a circus being allowed the privalige of going in the clowns broken car, if i close my eyes tight i can see me there it was wonderful.God bless grimaldi and all clowns that follow him may the art never die xx

]]> By: Gary https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-5945 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:44:53 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-5945 I still remember the words of a clown that I heard about 74 years ago
“father bring the hammer there’s a flea on baby’s eye”.
Gary

]]> By: Crazy bananas the clown https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/07/at-the-65th-annual-grimaldi-service/#comment-5943 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:05:47 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=23125#comment-5943 Although I have been a clown for 3 years this was my first year at the clowns service. As a Christian I attend church regularly but never have I seen anything quite like this. I felt carried away by the sheer joy and fun of the day. My monkey Charlie bananas was quite well behaved although he did mess about a bit during the hyms. The service was packed and the joy on the faces of children and adults alike made it well worth a 200 mile round trip. I couldnt help but wonder what Joseph himself would have made of it all. I learnt a lot from the more seasoned clowns and left feeling refreshed and happy. As I drove away radio 2 was playing Scott Joplins Entertainer and it felt just the perfect end to the day.
keep smiling – Crazy bananas

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