Retro: The lion tamer from Reading

David Cliffe • Published 29 Oct 2009 10:00 0 Comments

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IT is inevitable that from time to time, in a town the size of Reading, eccentric and colourful characters will arise.

Nevertheless, I was surprised to receive in the post a copy of the latest issue of Big Top, the magazine of the Circus Friends Association of Great Britain, and to find in its pages the story of a Reading man who achieved world renown as a lion tamer!

When I was a child, the arrival of the circus in my hometown was something to go and have a look at - especially the procession of elephants, from the railway station to the big top.

Later, I had the pleasure of watching the wonder in children's eyes when they saw elephants, lions and camels for the first time.

These memories were rekindled on reading the story of Bertie Vincent Clarke (pictured), born in 1883, the son of Lawrence and Hannah Clarke of 5, Albert Terrace. The road ran from Orts Road to Kennet Side, behind The True Patriot pub. Patriot Place is now on the site.

His gift for working with animals showed itself early - on leaving school he had a job as a "trace boy" with the Reading Tramways Company.

There had been complaints about horses having to be flogged to persuade them to negotiate the steep curve up to Factory Bridge in King's Road before the bridge was rebuilt. In response to the criticism, a "trace horse" was stationed by the bridge, to provide additional traction for cars crossing the bridge.

Then, at age 12, he ran away from home and later turned up as a wagon-boy, working for Bostock and Wombwell's travelling menagerie.

Captain Fred Wombwell recognised his talent as an animal trainer, but aged only 16, while the menagerie was at Southampton, he took a menial job on a tramp steamer to reach South Africa, the home of the animals he loved.

By the age of 23 he had worked in the circus, distinguished himself in the Boer War and travelled to New York, where he was earning the amazing sum of £50 a week as a lion tamer. He was now Captain Clarke.

This is only the beginning of the story, and for those wanting to read more, the King Pole magazine is in the local studies collection on the top floor of the library. I'm very grateful to the author, Stuart Williams, who sent the article and reminded me of a world I'd almost forgotten.

By the way, in the photograph it is interesting to compare the expression on the face of the Captain and that on the faces of the lions.

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