Bob Gandey

Robert Gandey (1894–1952) was a British showman who founded Gandey's Circus, which continues to perform in Britain. His parents were also showmen and he followed them into the trade, training performing ponies from the age of nine. Gandey had become a performer in the Buffalo Bill Wild West show by the age of 15 and by 1918 operated his own circus tent. From 1943 he began touring Gandey's Circus as an independent big-top show.

Biography

Gandey was born in 1894. His parents had performed in circus from the late 19th century in Wild West acts with Frank C. Bostock's Circus and the Buffalo Bill travelling show. Bob followed his parents into the trade, working with Lord George Sanger's circus from the age of nine as a pony trainer. By the age of 15 he was a talented horse rider and performed in the Buffalo Bill show. From 1910 to 1920 Gandey presented a comedy show involving mules and ponies; billed as "Robert Gandey", "Arthur Jack" or the "Colorado Kid". The company continues to tour as Gandey's Circus and also operates the Chinese State Circus and Cirque Surreal. The company is based at Congleton, Cheshire. Bob Gandey first settled there after his vehicle broke down while on tour and he took a liking to the area while waiting three weeks for it to be repaired.