Arthur Vercoe Pedlar
Encyclopedia
Arthur Vercoe Pedlar is a British clown.
Arthur Pedlar was born into a Congregational family and lives in Southport
. He was educated at Leighton Park School
in Reading, Berkshire
, England, a Quaker school. He first became interested in clown
s when he visited Bertram Mills Circus in 1938. At school he discovered that he could communicate silently with an audience as a tramp
clown and thus developed "Vercoe" the clown
.
He learnt to unicycle
at school and also to play various musical instruments. After undertaking National Service, and before joining the family business, he worked in a troupe of clowns as part of the Cirque Medrano
in Paris. He also worked for three weeks with Buster Keaton
. During his career, Pedlar has performed his clown act in Australia, Israel, Japan, Russia, and throughout Europe and Scandinavia.
Pedlar is an ordained Elder of the United Reformed Church
, a combination of the Congregational and the Presbyterian churches. He is also a member of the "Holy Fools", an inter-denominational group of clowns who work in hospitals, prisons, schools, etc.
He has been President of the World Clown Association
. In 1998, he was awarded a place in the International Clown Hall of Fame
.
Pedlar is married and has two children.
Arthur Pedlar was born into a Congregational family and lives in Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
. He was educated at Leighton Park School
Leighton Park School
Leighton Park School is a co-educational Quaker independent school for both day and boarding pupils. It is situated in the large town of Reading in Berkshire, in South East England...
in Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, England, a Quaker school. He first became interested in clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
s when he visited Bertram Mills Circus in 1938. At school he discovered that he could communicate silently with an audience as a tramp
Tramp
A tramp is a long term homeless person who travels from place to place as a vagrant, traditionally walking or hiking all year round. In British English meanwhile a tramp simply refers to a homeless person, usually not a travelling one....
clown and thus developed "Vercoe" the clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
.
He learnt to unicycle
Unicycle
A unicycle is a human-powered, single-track vehicle with one wheel. Unicycles resemble bicycles, but are less complex.-History:One theory of the advent of the unicycle stems from the popularity of the penny-farthing during the late 19th century...
at school and also to play various musical instruments. After undertaking National Service, and before joining the family business, he worked in a troupe of clowns as part of the Cirque Medrano
Cirque Medrano
The Cirque Medrano is a French circus, that was located at 63 Boulevard Rochechouart, at the corner of rue des Martyrs, on the edge of Montmartre in Paris. It was originally called Cirque Fernando...
in Paris. He also worked for three weeks with Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
. During his career, Pedlar has performed his clown act in Australia, Israel, Japan, Russia, and throughout Europe and Scandinavia.
Pedlar is an ordained Elder of the United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
, a combination of the Congregational and the Presbyterian churches. He is also a member of the "Holy Fools", an inter-denominational group of clowns who work in hospitals, prisons, schools, etc.
He has been President of the World Clown Association
World Clown Association
The World Clown Association is a worldwide organization for clowns and clowning. It holds an annual convention, mainly in the United States....
. In 1998, he was awarded a place in the International Clown Hall of Fame
International Clown Hall of Fame
The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center , located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA, is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of clown art and achievement...
.
Pedlar is married and has two children.