I first saw Punch And Judy on the beach at Weston-Super-Mare in the early
1970s, the performer was 'Prof' Reuben Staddon, who's family were
said to have performing the show since 1796 !! It must have
been a good performance I witnessed as when we went to
Weymouth the following year, I
immediately looked for a Punch show. I was not disappointed as
I discovered 'Prof Guy Higgin's
'famous' Punch & Judy. I must have watched every performance
for that week, excited by every show, the noise and voice of Mr
Punch appealed to me. At the end of that holiday I stated that,
"When I grow-up I'm going to be a Punch & Judy man".
Back at home I destroyed my teddies (to make the puppets) and
a wall papering table (as booth) to put a show on in the back
garden. I carried on performing the show during my school days
and in 1987, I was invited to do some shows with Bill Dane at his
Aberistyth sea front pitch. The following year (When I was 16) I
won 'The Most Promising Young Prof' award and was asked by
Mrs Anne Codman, if I could do
the 1988 summer season at
Llandudno. This was an honour for
me and although a long season thoroughly enjoyed it.1989
was a special year since I passed my driving test, left school, and
moved to Torquay. This was the start of my professional
career.
Goodrington Sands,
Paignton was privately owned then,
it was immaculate, no litter, the beach was cleaned every day
and there was a good atmosphere. Sadly, after that season the
company went into receivership and the beach was taken over by
the Torbay Council. As no contract was guaranteed for the
following year. I looked elsewhere and after talking to colleague
(and friend) Prof Rod Burnett, I
was asked if would be
interested in taking over from him for 1 year at
Weston-Super-Mare. The season
ran from Easter until the end of September, with shows on the
hour, every hour. Weston was a good pitch but
as the contract was for 1 year I started looking around again
and went to 'Lusty Glaze' beach in Cornwall. 1991 was a wet
season and I found that working just one beach in Cornwall
didn't really work so I began
asking around regarding resorts that would be interested in
having a Punch & Judy show. At the time, Martin Bridle had stopped
working the beach at Broadstairs
in Kent, so I got in touch and decided to go for it. Martin
officially handed his old pitch over to me at the 1992 Covent
Garden May Fayre. I stayed there the following year (1993). This
was also the year I bought my humble VW Camper van, which I
lived in during the summer seasons until 1998. I resigned from
the Broadstairs due to the local
authority charging me rent and paying another performer to
perform on the promenade. I made enquires as to the
possibility of returning to my old pitch on Goodrington Sands. A deal was
negotiated and contracts signed.
I returned there in 1994 and performed the show during the
summer months untill 2003.
2004 I mainly accepted paid bookings but did a few days on the
main beach at Paignton
