Smiling clowns gather in ceremony - 24th February 2023

This is the 77th annual memorial service to honour the grandfather of clowning, the legendary Joseph Grimaldi. Custom has it that at an east London church under cold February skies, the atmosphere's transformed as red-nosed, grinning clowns in vibrantly coloured clothing unite to pay their respects.

Rob Bowker: "It's a real genuine church service in remembrance of Joseph Grimaldi who is revered as the first proper clown in England and so, our grandfather of clowning."

Grimaldi's clowning style, fashionable in the decades around the turn of the 19th century, derived from the Italian performance genre of 'commedia dell'arte'. He blended mime with acrobatics and physical comic action to convey satirical observations to his audiences, with little or no scenery. These familiar traditions are still followed by modern-day clowns.

And whilst the terror induced by clowns, or 'coulrophobia' may have led to some opting to give the Grimaldi clown service a wide berth, others like Rui Canico seized the chance to immerse their children into the clown extravaganza.

Rui Canico: "We've never been in a similar thing before. And I think, you know, it would be a nice introduction for him to the wonderful world of, you know, joy and colours and lights and microphones."

Andrew Davis, erstwhile President of the World Clown Association, was accompanied by his daughter. They commented on the value of the occasion, describing it as a fun-filled opportunity to share news and re-bond.

Andrew's daughter: "I like having fun with everyone and seeing everyone and catching up on what they've been doing and seeing what they have to do.

Andrew Davis: "And you like clowning, don't you? You like all the energy."

Andrew's daughter: "Yeah."

Andrew Davis: "And the fun that we have when we, when we get together yeah."

The church service also fondly commemorates other members of the clowning clan who have passed on during the year, allowing their fellow jesters to mark their passing with broad, clown-faced smiles.

Rob Bowker: We like people to smile. We like people to laugh. We like people to enjoy life because at times it is far too serious. So that's where we're at. We're at the smiling end. Oh yeah."