http://travellerrose.wordpress.com The Story of a Life Growing Up in Theatres, Circuses and Fairs Tue, 27 May 2008 00:27:42 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In 1946, when I was born, Cobh was still called Queenstown. It was a jumbled collection of narrow houses and cobbled streets, leaning over the harbour like a pack of tipsy sailors. American ships often called there, eagerly awaited by the girls of Queenstown, who made a few bob on ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/the-kavanagh-boys-go-to-sea/ One day in 1944, Little Beaver, now officially considered `the worst disciplined soldier in the British Army', announced to his Commanding Officer that he was getting married. ``God help the girl,” the CO said. The girl’s mother was thinking much the same thing. Jessica Woodruff, of Clapton Park, London, had woken up ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/marie/ Little Beaver in the 60s My father was tall and lean and fierce. People said he looked like an eagle with his hawk nose and hooded eyes. He had a slow, twanging voice with an accent that was hard to place. It wasn’t Irish, or English – no one could guess ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/the-wild-mans-son/ ALL storytelling must start somewhere. Mine starts in Dalkey, a seaside town on the west coast of Ireland. I am around three years old, so it must be 1949 - I am standing beside a pram, watching fascinated as a glossy wet sweet pops out of the chest of ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/where-it-begins/ A campground in Ireland !940s Day after day I hungered for it. My footsteps slowed as we passed the shop window, my arm stretching as I dragged my mother to a halt. It stood right in the middle of the shop window, gleaming blue and silver, shaped like a small boat, ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/the-dolls-pram/ Yes, there really was such a place - the Wigan Casino. The band actually consisted of a pianist and a guitarist, besides the dummer. Yes, he looks bored. Asked once why he didn't even change his deadpan expression when there was a stripper on stage, he uttered the immortal words: ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/jojo-at-the-wigan-casino/ This little black Himalayan bear, whose cage was next next to our caravan in Guernsey, belonged to the circus owners. He was a very charming little fellow, just a baby really, and he enjoyed our scraps and left overs. But he really wasn't in the best place to grow up - ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-bear-next-door/ The traveller's creed is a simple one - if you can't afford to buy something, do without, or make it yourself. The latter course was the one most often taken. These swingboats were built by my father when he came back from WWII and took his new bride to Ireland for ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-swingboats/ Taken in 1949, this picture shows Little Beaver and Marie, my parents, and me at a fairground near Dublin. I am riding my new prize possession, a three wheeler bike. In the background you can see the wooden swinging boats my dad built, and his prize possession, a Packard tourer ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/travellers-three/ When it became necessary for me to create my own circus act, I ran into a difficulty unusual among circus children. I was scared of heights. Added to this the fact that I was not very talented at the normal things, like tight rop walking and juggling, that left me ... http://travellerrose.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/jojo-born-in-a-bullring/