Big top jacket pincher brings tears to the circus ring
Published Date: 10 October 2009
 http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Big-top-jacket-pincher-brings.5721141.jp

A circus ringmaster is close to the tears of a clown after a £600 stage jacket was stolen from the backstage area of his big top.
Norman Barrett, ringmaster for Zippos Circus, had a bespoke blue jacket pinched when the circus came to Southsea Common.

Circus legend Mr Barrett, who usually wears a traditionally red ringmaster's jacket, keeps his favourite blue version backstage for when he does a routine with budgies.

But it vanished after one show last month.

'It's a one-of-a-kind jacket,' said the dejected 73-year-old, who is held in high regard within the circus community.

He added: 'I have many jackets but this one was my favourite, I felt great in it.

'I'd left it in the usual place in the backstage area after a show.

'I'd been gone about half-an-hour when I came back and saw it had gone.'

Mr Barrett, who featured on Michael Aspel's This Is Your Life in 1990, said he had the jacket especially made by an Italian tailor in Preston.

The theft took place on September 3 at 5pm when Zippos Circus was towards the end of a fortnight-long stay on Southsea Common.

Mr Barrett, who tours eight months a year with the circus, said: 'Somebody may have been offered the jacket for sale or seen someone wearing it at a party or something.

'You'd definitely notice it if you saw it.

'It must be out there somewhere. I hope someone reports it and I can get it back. Nobody likes having something stolen, it's more the inconvenience of it than anything else.'

Hampshire police are investigating the missing jacket. The theft was not the only trouble Zippos Circus experienced during their latest stint at Southsea.

The circus had expensive new banners placed on Southsea Common torn down and ripped up by vandals.

The show also faced heavy criticism and protest demonstrations from animal rights campaigners angry at Zippos' use of horses and dogs.

A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: 'The theft of the ringmaster's coat and cloak was reported to police, but unfortunately enquiries have produced no information to date as to who may be responsible and the missing items have not been recovered.'