Dates

• Existence: Born c1930

Biography

Fred Van Buren was born in Sandbach, Cheshire. Fred first became intersted in circus at four years old when his parents took him to see Chapman's Circus. After this, the family started to visit Blackpool Tower regularly, where Fred met Bob Gandey, who started to teach him about circus. Fred trained in trapeze, clowning, magic and showmanship in general and soon started to organise his own small shows. Upon leaving school, he became an apprentice to a cabinet maker, which allowed him to start building his own magic tricks.

In 1953 Fred made his full professional debut with Gandey's Circus. In 1955, Fred met Connie Greta, who became his assistant and the pairs started to perform as the Yoxanis and they moved into variety scene. By the 1960s their act was travelling around the country and featured in several TV programmes. In 1961 Fred and Great got married, they had a son Andrew, who followed his parents footsteps into magic and showmanship.

By the 1980s the Van Burens were travelling internationally. In 1997 Fred and Greta retired from active performance.

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