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http://www.at.artslink.co.za/~circus/
One Ring European Style
Mr Wilkie
Born in 1907, he came from a family with a great deal of experience in the entertainment industry. At the age of fourteen he operated various rides at the New Palace Entertainment Center. At sixteen he joined a band that he later took over. After the war Howe Wilkie entered the world of the circus with WH Wilkies Mammoth Circus and Zoo on the Marine Promenade in Brighton.
In 1953 he moved to South Africa and shortly after getting married here he moved his entire circus to Durban. This huge two-poled tent surrounded by the characteristic red and yellow was the new home of WH Wilkies Great Continental Circus The circus then traveled using 32 railway wagons specially modified for the circus animals and artistes. In 1979 we had the great honour of hosting the Circus of the Peoples Republic of China and the highly acclaimed Moscow State Circus in 1980.
In 1982 Boswell Wilkie offloaded from the train for the last time and became exclusively a road circus. To this day the circus has continued to bring international acts and great entertainment to the large and small towns of South Africa.
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