[News] RIP Gerry Cottle

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Lenny Rider

Well-known member

Sep 15, 2010

5,434

• Jan 14, 2021

• #1

The great British circus showman sadly contracted Covid 19 and left us yesterday.

Another part of our youth gone, back in the day great family entertainment.

 

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Poyningsgull

Well-known member

Apr 12, 2007

1,627

• Jan 14, 2021

• #2

Also owned Wookey Hole Caves.

 

Pavilionaire

Well-known member

Jul 7, 2003

30,588

• Jan 14, 2021

• #3

R.I.P. Gerry.

When I heard he had Covid I knew he was walking a tightrope.

 

Is it PotG?

Thrifty non-licker

Feb 20, 2017

23,370

Sussex by the Sea

• Jan 14, 2021

• #4

Rip

 

shingle

Well-known member

Jan 18, 2004

3,141

Lewes

• Jan 14, 2021

• #5

R.I.P Gerry

Always remember as a photography student in the 1980's I wanted to photograph a circus, and Gerry Cottles circus was somewhere in S.W. London. I phoned up, spoke to him and he invited me that night to take photos back stage and everywhere with a vip pass, I've never forgotten it.

 

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Lenny Rider

Well-known member

Sep 15, 2010

5,434

• Jan 14, 2021

• Thread starter
• #6

shingle said:

R.I.P Gerry

Always remember as a photography student in the 1980's I wanted to photograph a circus, and Gerry Cottles circus was somewhere in S.W. London. I phoned up, spoke to him and he invited me that night to take photos back stage and everywhere with a vip pass, I've never forgotten it.

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I do feel a lot of the circus people including Gerry were tarred with same brush as the small minority who mistreated the animals, it was an art form in its day, I'm certainly sad I wasn't able to take my kids to see a reputable circus with animals.

 

thedonkeycentrehalf

Retired

Jul 7, 2003

8,630

• Jan 14, 2021

• #7

Lenny Rider said:

I'm certainly sad I wasn't able to take my kids to see a reputable circus with animals.

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I know it isn't reputable, but there are plenty of clowns and animals at Selhurst Park

 

clapham_gull

Legacy Fan

Aug 20, 2003

25,338

• Jan 14, 2021

• #8

Lenny Rider said:

I do feel a lot of the circus people including Gerry were tarred with same brush as the small minority who mistreated the animals, it was an art form in its day, I'm certainly sad I wasn't able to take my kids to see a reputable circus with animals.

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Very sad to hear of his death.

Personally, I'd don't think there is anything reputable in the modern world about a performing animal.

It belongs to another era, but I wouldn't judge it's acceptance in the past. I used to quite like Zoos, but apart from the specialist conservation activity, they are basically animal prisons.