Dates

• Existence: 11 August 1873 - 16 April 1938

Biography

Bertram Wagstaff Mills was born in London on 11 August 1873. He was the son of Halford Lewis Mills and Mary Fenn Wagstaff. Halford was the proprietor of a coach building firm in Paddington and several small farms in the countryside including one at Harefield and another at Chalfont St. Giles.

Bertram spent most of his childhood at the farm in Chalfont St. Giles, learning to ride horses. He left school in 1888 to join his father’s business, where he developed a love for horses and coaches. This led him to exhibit carriages and horse at shows all over the UK and Europe and eventually become a judge as such events. In 1901 Bertram married Ethel Notley and they had two sons, Cyril Bertram (1902-1991) and Bernard Notley (1905- 1985).

During the First World War, Bertram served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, gaining the rank of Captain. When he returned to civilian life, he found that the coach building industry was declining, due to the growing development of the motorcar.

Over his life span, Bertram Mills became a very influential personality, not just in the circus but also through his many other interests. He was a member of the London County Council for East Fulham, London, from 1928 to 1934, and for Clapham from 1934 to his death. He was also a member of the special committee of experts for the British Board of Film Censors, President of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain and Ireland, Chairman of the Entertainments Licensing Committee of the London County Council, Chairman of the Inspection of Films Sub-Committee, and Chairman of the Sunday Entertainment Sub-Committee. He was a Freeman of the City of London, and a Liveryman of the Loriners’ and Farriers’ Company, and, in the year of his death, he had been adopted as a prospective Conservative candidate to represent the Isle of Ely at the Parliament. Furthermore, he ran coach services between London and Brighton and London and Oxford, bred horses, and judged at top international horse shows. Bertram founded the Bertram Mills Circus in 1920 after attending a circus show presented by Fred A. Wilkin’s Great Victory Circus and Allied Fair at Olympia, which he found underwhelming and his friend Sir Gilbert Greenhall dared him to present a better show.

Bertram initially intended to present the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, however when this proved impossible he decided to present his own circus on 17 December 1920, for the 1920-1921 winter season. The show, which was distinguished for the quality and class of the acts was a great success with the critiques as well as financially and marked the beginning of a long period of the circus sector’s revival. Bertram Mills used his social status to attract the upper class and personalities from the cultural sector as well as royalty to his shows and lavished them with grand openings and sumptuous annual luncheons.

Bertram Mills Circus gained an unparalleled reputation in Europe, where it was dubbed ‘The Blue Ribbon Circus’ and ‘The Quality Show’ and artistes around the world aspired to appear in its ring.

When Bertram’s sons Cyril and Bernard were old enough they joined the family business, which allowed them to branch out from Olympia and start travelling around the provinces in 1930, which operated until 1964.

Bertram W. Mills died from pneumonia on 16 April 1938 and his sons took over ownership of the circus, renaming the company Cyril and Bernard Mills Ltd. until the business folded in 1967.

Found in 8 Collections and/or Records: