Fossett, Jacko, 1922 - 2004
Dates
- Existence: 11 November 1922 - 1 June 2004
Biography
Robert George John Francis Fossett, aka Jacko Fossett was born at Hull fair in one of the largest lineages of circus performers and owners in Britain on 11 November 1922. Jacko was the son of John Fossett, the original Jacko the Clown, and Maria Proctor, a wire walker.
Jacko started to perform in the circus ring at six years of age. By 1936, he was working with Sir Robert Fossett’s Circus, Chapman Circus and at Blackpool Tower with a trapeze act.
In 1940, Jacko enlisting in the RAF and joining E.N.S.A. Throughout this time, he gave performances to entertain the allied troops in north Africa, Malta and Italy.
After the war he joined the newly formed Roberts Brothers Circus and toured around the north of England and Scotland. During the 1960s he worked with Bertram Mills Circus and the following decade he was performing at Great Yarmouth Hippodrome. In 1990 he went back to Blackpool Tower Circus this time to fulfil his dream of performing as a clown.
Jacko was part of two main acts through his career, one with clown Billy Merchant ‘Little Billy’, with whom he created a double act that lasted thirty years and travelled extensively around Britain and Europe. The pair also became a household name at the annual Belle Vue Christmas Circus until Billy’s retirement in 1979. Jacko was also renowned for his boxing kangaroo act, which he performed with Sidney the kangaroo for many years.
Jacko Fossett retired in the late 1990s after having a heart attack while performing. He died suddenly on 1 June 2004, at the age of 81. Through his career, he achieved worldwide fame working with some of the greatest circus names of the mid twentieth century including Bertram Mills, Chipperfield’s, Billy Smart's, Robert Brothers, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Blackpool Tower, Belle Vue, Cirkus Schumann, Benneweis, Krone, Cirque Jean Richard, La Voix du Nord and Circo Enis Togni. He was presented two lifetime achievement awards one in 2000 by the World's Fair's and one in 2003 by the Circus Friends Association of Great Britain.
Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:
Belle Vue Circus, Manchester Programme, 6 December 1980 - 31 January 1981
Billy Russell’s Circus Spectacular Programme, 1975
Billy Russell’s Circus Spectacular Programme, 1976
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth, Jerry, Jimmy and Johnny equestrians, Udo Heltano equilibrist, Mary Chipperfield’s kindergarten animals, chimpanzees and Liberty horses, Senorita Manolita aerial act, Miss Wendy’s Poodle Party, Jacko Fossett and Little Billy clowns, The Belios acrobats, The Halfwits comedy acrobats, The Tonitas Veracruz trapeze, Miss Conti balancing roller act, Jorge Tonito tightwire, The Herculeans moustachioed acrobats. Contains illustrations with photos, 24p.p.
Billy Russell’s Circus Spectacular Programme, 1977
The Two Bohumils jugglers, The Robert Brothers Camel Caravan, elephants and ponies, Skippy the Boxing Kangaroo, Blanini aerialist, Jacko Fossett and Little Billy clowns, Markus and Rosita strongman, The Valla Bertini Troupe trick cyclist, The Wychwoods magic and dog act, Chyfudey contortion, acrobatic and balancing act, The Bjoerlings equestrian act, Bobby Dixon comedy acrobat, The Tanger troupe tumblers. Contains illustration with photos, 24p.p.
Christopher Palmer Collection
Circus programmes and VHS tapes from Billy Smart’s Circus and Chipperfields’s Circus collected during the 1970s and early 1980s by the TV producer, Christopher John Palmer. There are also a number of promotional photographs of artistes and other ephemera related to the circus.
Programmes, 1970 - 1981
Programmes for various British and international circuses including Billy Russell's, Blackpool Tower, Fossett's, Chipperfield's and the Toni Boltini's Circus.