- Mary Chipperfield
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Mary Chipperfield was a 1970s circus entertainer who specialised in a chimpanzee act. She was also known as an animal trainer, providing numerous animals for various BBC productions and the 1967 movie Dr. Doolittle.[1]
Contents
The Chipperfield heritage
She was the daughter of Rose Chipperfield (née Purchase; 1912–2006). The Purchase family had a long history of travelling menageries, and Rose had a lion act herself. Two years after meeting her husband Jimmy Chipperfield the two shows amalgamated (around 1930).
After the end of World War II the circus owners travelled to Sri Lanka and bought nine elephants which then led on to further acquisitions and the growth of the circus.[2]
Mary Chipperfield and her husband Richard Cawley were actively involved in the creation of the Longleat Safari Park. Mary wrote about its creation and first year of public operation in Lions on the Lawn (1971).[3]
Christmas shows in the 1970s
Just as the BBC showed Billy Smart's Circus shows on Christmas Day for several years during the 1970s, ITV would show Chipperfield's Circus in competition.
Recent controversies
Mary Chipperfield has become a controversial figure in more recent times regarding her treatment of animals in her circus. The most infamous case being the treatment of the chimpanzee 'Trudy' who was seized following criminal proceedings and taken to the 'Monkey World' sanctuary in April 1998.[4] Mary Chipperfield was found guilty of twelve counts of cruelty to animal and fined £7,500.[5]
References
- ^ Mary Chipperfield, Lions on the Lawn (1971)
- ^ The Stage Features - Rose Chipperfield
- ^ Mary Chipperfield, Lions on the Lawn (1971)
- ^ along with the "severe punishment" of other animals such as camels and elephants. she "Abused chimp's new life", article from BBC News
- ^ "Circus trainers fined for cruelty", article from BBC News
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