Little
Billy Merchant, Belle Vue Christmas 1971.
Billy retired to Skegness in 1978, but was the long-time partner of Jack Fossett
for over thirty years. Jacko began clowning with Robert Brothers in 1947 after
serving in the Second world war with Dick Emery and Tony Hancock. He survived
the war to very nearly become lunch for a runaway performing bear at Belle
Vue. Jacko's huge, comedy clowning shoes made escape virtually impossible
as they are designed to trip the performer up. Fortunately the animal trainer
rescued him just seconds before he met a grizzly end.
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