PartOne...The Early Days
Colonel Aloysius J. Tandy founded the Circus in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. He started in a very small way with his army pension and little knowledge of how great the show would become with later generations. A chance meeting with Captain Horatio J. Arbuthnot of the same regiment indirectly led to their first act, a human cannonball. Their part in an embarrassing incident involving the complete destruction of the orangery at Windsor Castle somewhat hastened the retirement of both officers. Queen Victoria herself always hated oranges and thought it was all “spiffing fun”. Her diary records her enjoyment and contains a note to ask if the duo would like to try their hand at Osbourne when fully recovered. The Colonel and Captain were much encouraged by this secret patronage and decided to tour the Empire with their spectacular new entertainment. Demolishing famous landmarks remained an unfortunate side effect of their experiments with various methods of propulsion until the Arbuthnot,Tandy Reciprocating Cannon was finally perfected.
The European Tour was cut short as a result of an argument over reparations with the Italian authorities, following an unfortunate incident involving the rearrangement of a tower in Pisa. Seeking sanctuary with members of the old regiment, it was here that the army recognised the men for the geniuses they were. The cannon was adopted as a method of covertly inserting cavalry officers behind enemy lines. With new finance in hand they returned to England where they met the Great Tandadino, forced to leave his native Italy due the strange similarity of his name to the now very unpopular Colonel. Feeling rather responsible for this poor performer's plight, agreement was swiftly had that they should all tour together. While the Great Tandadino (who’s first name is unknown) was an enthusiastic and able performer his six acrobatic elephants were less enthusiastic. However a contract with the Royal Navy to supply elephant dung for the growing of limes (a cure for scurvy) lead to a tour of the south coast and a romantic distraction for Aloysius. Clarrisa Wentworth, the beautiful proprietor of Clarrisa’s Sea View Tearoom became engaged in conversation with Arbuthnot when he noticed she was the owner of a particularly fine steam corset press. Later however, she became deeply in love with Tandy. Never had so gallant a man ever been so appreciative of my dumplings she would tell her grandchildren. Arbuthnot harboured a short lived jealousy but soon became engrossed in the explosive potential of her home made brand of very fine custard powder. So while Aloysius courted the lovely Clarrisa, Arbuthnot was hard at work refining the powder as new safe propulsion for the cannon.
The couple decided to marry in a spectacular ceremony that was to culminate in a salute from the new custard powered cannon on Brighton pier. Tandy was uneasy during the ceremony, knowing as he did, that Arbuthnot had rather over indulged at the stag party the previous night. Alcohol had been known to impair his ability to measure explosive charges in the past and the effects of the custard powder were still largely unexplored. It came as no surprise then, when the service was interrupted for a moment by, what the Times Society Correspondent described as, "a loud report" heard from seaward. Mistaking it as a distress call the lifeboat crew who represented the major part of the choir hurriedly took station. There now being only two choristers of about six years in age left. What they lacked in musical talent they more than made up for with volume. The explosion was of course the work of Arbuthnot who was discovered under the counter in the novelty rock emporium. No evidence of the exploit would have been found had the now sunken cannon not holed the lifeboat some 200 yards offshore. The pier was declared unsafe a few years later when the quality of its foundations was called into question. Also the remains of three bathing machines and 46 deck chairs were discovered over the following weeks but evidence was not conclusive that there was any connection with the firing of the gun. It was fortunate that the society wedding had raised so much interest that the sea front was deserted that day. As for Arbuthnot, the lifeboat crew, much revitalised by their bracing dip in the sea, successfully convinced him that he should never drink again. Tandadini was to find that his elephants had been more than usually productive that morning and with this unforeseen rise in profits bought the happy couple a wedding present they would treasure for many years.
Part Two…the rise to fame
In part two you will hear how P T Barnum, in his later years would pay tribute to the generosity of the Colonel when recognising him as a promising young man he gave him two shillings and a copy of his book, How to start a successful circus with only two shillings.
Actual events may not match description.
