In the first of a new series for Total MK, historian John Taylor shines a light on some of the colourful past characters from the area and their unique stories...
HARRY COADY
Born into a fairground family at Airdrie in 1905, at the age of 17 Harry joined Biddall’s Circus, run by Henry and Benny Biddall. He then joined boxing booths but, having been undefeated in 26 first class fights fractured his right elbow in 1926, and thereafter lost the full use of that arm.
Versatile in many acts he then performed in several circuses, and at Lambeth on October 31st 1934 married Doris ’Dolly’ Sloan (Yelding). Her mother was from an Irish circus family, and Sloan was the professional name used by members of the Yelding family.
In fact it was as Doris Sloan that Doris appeared on one bill with her comedy zebra, with the zebra act also featuring alongside Harry’s clowning, in four distinct parts, in the film ‘Old Mother Riley’s Circus.’ Clowning was just one aspect of Harry’s talent for he also played accordion, was a stand up comedian, and a singer and composer.
Indeed his ‘Smile all the Time’ was recorded by George Formby, who had a hit with the song during WW2. Harry and Doris performed throughout WW2, during which one observer wrote; “I can honestly say it is the best zebra act that I have ever had the pleasure to see; it’s clever and very funny while Doris looked really charming in her beautiful costumes and had a good speaking voice that can be heard.”
Around 1942 Harry became the owner of his own circus but left for awhile and played at theatres, also becoming involved in broadcasting. As a ringmaster he organised the development of the original circus of Billy Smart, to whom he sold his big top in 1944. (In future transactions Chipperfields circus would buy lions, and Billy Butlin an elephant!) Having bought a new big top in 1945 Harry’s show was billed as Cody’s Continental Circus & Zoo. (He always kept the name Coady, but for performances the name was always Cody!)
In 1947 he expanded his circus activities into two units - the first as before and, managed by Doris, ‘Rosita’s International Circus and Animals Show.’ ‘Rosita’ was actually Doris, performing with the world‘s cleverest monkey Jocko, ‘insured for 1,000 pounds.’ (In fact Harry offered a reward of 100 pounds to anyone producing a cleverer primate!) However whilst at Leighton Buzzard the tent was blown down during a storm, and with much of the equipment destroyed by flooding most of the acts were thereafter accommodated in the main Cody circus.
In 1950 on May 10th at Barratt Maternity Home, Northampton, Doris gave birth to Colonel Henry Coady, always known as Tod in the business, who continues in the entertainment business to this day. When not on tour, from around 1957 Harry and his wife lived at the Black Horse café, Great Linford, where at the back of the premises many types of animals would be kept, including elephants and lions.
This being a time when Harry had decided to take things easier, with the last circus performance at Rothwell in June 1960 he gave up the circus proprietorship, and with Doris would manage the Black Horse café. This they intended to improve, albeit to also continue with entertaining at various local functions.
With their son then aged only 10 the circus wouldn’t remain in family ownership, and after a 16 week summer season at Rhyl, Harry became a performer in a larger circus. As for the circus animals some would be retained as pets with others sold to good homes. Then in 1965, advertising for sale a 65 ft tent and other circus equipment, to include ‘a 5 ton Austin van,’ Harry and Doris retired from circus life to run the Black Horse Cafe and filling station - phone 746.
In November of that year due to road widening the council passed plans for the property to be set further back, providing a further reason for Harry to take a break from circus entertainment until the new premises were completed.
Yet despite having semi retired, in 1970 he decided to re-enter show business with a revival of his knife throwing and sharp shooting act. Consequently he left the Newport Pagnell area to rejoin the circus, and in the winter of 1970/71 returned to clowning, with the Robert Brothers circus and then in early 1971 with Circus Markus.
In July of that year he then returned to Scotland for a holiday with relatives, but, late of Manse Lane, Cumnock, Ayrshire, on Saturday, July 31st he was tragically found dead by a passer by in the nearby village of Sorne.
He was 65 and with the cause of death being self inflicted gunshot wounds his .22 calibre rifle lay by his side. Due to a recent shoulder injury he found he was no longer able to achieve the high self standard that he had always set.
Harry’s son, Tod, continued in ‘show biz,’ and when he advertised for another assistant in his knife throwing act three local women applied - at £10 an hour. As one of them said, “Well, if it’s just people throwing knives at me then I don’t mind at all.”
