I cost a lot in time and effort but I finally have it!

Thank you Nigel Male for your dedication to this legacy of my uncle grandpa and my family, thank you Christian Peña Marambio for your help to bring him to Guatemala I am very happy!!!

We have gone world wide! To date copies have gone out too:-

France, Germany, Italy, Peru, Guatemala, Madrid, Las Vegas, Canada, Monaco, Austrailia....

Copies are availible to purchase on Ebay, Blackpool Tourist information Office, Circus Friends Association Shops, Joyland Books

I had the pleasure this past weekend of attending the Book Launch event for “39 Years under the Tower” by Nigel Male and Steven B Richley. The book has been a dream of Nigel’s for 26 years now and with Steve’s help he has finally realised it. The event started on Friday the 1st of November with a book launch in the ring at Blackpool Tower Circus, where everyone who had pre ordered a book could collect their copy, listen to a great talk from Professor Vanessa Toulmin on the history of Blackpool Tower Circus, A few words from Nigel himself, A speech by the deputy mayor and of course Charlie Cairoli Jnr talking about his dad. Charlie has been instrumental in helping Nigel providing access to never before seen photos and stories from his families archive, that our own Bobbo Roberts helped Nigel identify as he has an amazing eye for detail in circus photos being able to identify the year by the design of ring boxes used.

I had planned on attending as a representative of Clowns International to celebrate one the most famous clowns the UK ever had, however as I was travelling down with Bobbo he asked if I’d like to join him in slap and motley to welcome the audience in and help guide people to the trams for the dinner and auction. Nigel had booked a tram ride as part of the event taking us all along to the Imperial Hotel where we’d dine together and had the opportunity to bid on some exclusive items in the auction. It was good to catch up with our Vice president Chris Stone and of course Tweedy at the event, along with the great and good of circus.

The auction itself contained various items including a bust of Charlie, the original artworks that Curtis Tappenden had provided for the book launch poster and various items from Chris Stone’s collection he had donated. I bid as high as I could on Curtis’s art but someone wanted them more than me, I was successful in buying some postcards from Chris’ collection though. In all the auction raised over £2000 for the Brian’s House Children’s Hospice which Charlie supports.

I’d like to say a massive thank you to Nigel for all his hard work and determination to see this book published and cement these important stories in our history. People like Nigel and Steve with their passion for all things Charlie are preserving important heritage not just for Blackpool but for clowns in general and should be applauded for the efforts.

The book is a limited run but they do have some copies still

My own mum was fond of saying, 'It's hard work for a animal trainer and the clowns to keep going back to the same venue time after time with something new for the public to enjoy' So just think how hard doing it for 39 years must have been. Not just coming up with 1 complete entree but a music gag and a full water or slosh gag too.

I am of course talking about Charlie Cairoli and my good friend Nigel has written a book on the man himself that has been his dream for 26 years. He is very passionate about Charlie, having spent a lot of time over the years running the Charlie Cairoli Appreciation society. We get a real glimpse in to this great clowns life, as Nigel was given access by the Cairoli family to never before photos and other items from the Cairoli family. I feel very lucky as people talk about legends like Charlie Cairoli, Norman Barrett, Mary Chipperfield, Jacko Fossett and even my own Dad Bobby Roberts, to me they were always around and it seemed normal, Nigel has put some of that normal in this book, Charlie's son said at the launch, but to me he was just my Dad and I can see why, it's only now I realise what huge stars they were, but they all had time to talk to this little sod. This book is special as it preserves the story of a very special man with a huge talent for the future.

It's nice to find a book where u can just dip in and out for a random slice of Charlie or read it cover to cover to get to know all his stories. Someone once called Charlie the clowns clown. I felt such a honour to be asked by Nigel to go down to Blackpool to be in the Tower venue and help him to to do mix and mingle with other folk who love the tradition of a time long gone as much as me and my good mate Ian Williams.

As we started to get made up it dawned on me we was getting our slap on in the very same dressing room as Charlie did for so many years. So I tried to stop my bottom lip trembling as we put on our faces. It's not been since 1990 that I last got to perform in the Blackpool Tower circus and I was very honoured to be asked to do so for the launch of the book about such a huge star as Charlie Cairoli. I urge all of you to buy, beg, steal a copy of this book it's a snapshot of the past. A perfect moment in time when one clown knew exactly what the public loved and he gave it to them solidly for 39 years. No wonder they loved him so much. If you haven't already got a copy then what are you waiting for?

Written by Bobbo Roberts

A heartfelt summary of a great event. It added to the evening to have a few present-day clowns around ... I'm sure Charlie was smiling down on the event and perhaps sent all that rain to give us a good soaking at the end 🤡 💧 🔫

To - Nigel Male and Steven B Richley,

Authors of Charlie Cairoli ( 39 Years Under The Tower).

Your wonderful book - I am so pleased to now own a copy of has achieved so much already,

On Fri 1st Nov and Sat 2nd Nov 2019 - In the ring of The Blackpool Tower Circus , Your well illustrated and informative book and its launch , Has, I am sure - Re - Created - Many fond memories for those reading it.

Memories - Valued and treasured by so many - Who ever attended a Charlie Cairoli and Company performance at The Blackpool Tower Circus.

Just watching old videos and recordings of Charlie's performances let's you see just how much Fun, Excitement, and laughter he gave and shared with his Audiences.

And he clearly enjoyed every minute of every performance.

By producing and launching this book with much passion and dedication All about - a much loved Blackpool performer -- and raising the wonderful sum of over £2000 at the Imperial Hotel - for Charlie's Chosen local Charity ( Brian House ).

Both Yourselves, and all those who genuinely supported the book launch and Auction - will have enabled Brian House - to translate that SUM into much needed support for those in their care.

And if the Sum raised brings an extra smile and a little fun to these children - And I'm sure this book will achieve this - I bet it will be bringing a smile to Charlie's face too right now - it's what he was passionate about - Dedicated to making people happy.

Well done - Both.

Blackpool can be truly proud of this book ( Charlie Cairoli - 39 Years Under The Tower ).

By - Nigel Male - Steven B Richley, 2019.