A Chip Off The Old Block

One of our newest Junior members had her first bookings recently, Millie is the daughter of our  PRO Rob Bowker and has decided of her own accord to start clowning after seeing how much fun her Dad has at work. Both Rob and Millie were booked to work the parade...

The story of Charlie Cairoli

“39 years under the tower”, the book!

 You'll be pleased to know, after 26 years of research, we are now almost ready to publish. You may be aware I am writing the book with Steve Richley, Steve has written several very good circus books, including the posters of...

Amadán 2019. A Festival of Clowning

Nenagh Arts Centre, Co Tipperary, Ireland, 10th-12th May 2019 We aim to promote the art of clowning, through performance, education and networking. Bringing together performers from all genre’s of clown, from all parts of the world. Uniting them through play and...

The origins of Clowns International stretches back to 1946/7 as the International Circus Clowns Club when  the majority of clowns were to be found in the various circuses of the time. Troupes of sometimes a dozen were employed in the larger shows.  In February of each year there were clowns who were negotiating contracts for the coming season and so it was at this time of year in 1947 that Billy Smart, proprietor of a circus of that name created some publicity for his Show by arranging for some of his clowns to attend Joseph Grimaldi’s grave in the churchyard of St. James’s church in Pentonville Road, London.  There they laid a wreath on the gravestone and afterwards decided to meet again the following year. 

A circus and clown enthusiast by the name of Stan Bult got to hear of this and as a result the gathering of clowns became the International Circus Clown Club with Stan Bult as its first Secretary/Organiser.  From the initial meeting arose the annual service of remembrance for Joseph Grimaldi which was initially and for many years after held at St. James’s church in Pentonville Road. In 1959 it moved to Holy Trinity Church in Beechwood Road, Haggerston, London and our annual service continues to be held there.

wp1372d4a7_05_06 By 1978 the survival of the International Circus Clown Club was in jeopardy owing to the diminishing number of clowns inside circuses and a growing number elsewhere.  So a decision was made to widen the membership of the club to include all clowns of every type and so the name of the club was changed to “Clowns International”.

 Originally membership was for professional circus clowns but nowadays membership is made up of clowns from all walks of life.  Join Now as a friend of clowns or a full clown member (if you are a clown).

Members come from around the world including UK, USA, Portugal, Denmark and France to name but a few.