Rail disruptions set to hit Bognor clowns' convention

Major engineering works by Network Rail mean train services in the area will be severely curtailed.

This will affect the visitors to the town and Butlins looking forward to joining in its Circus Circus spectacular based around the weekend of March 7-8.

Up to 100 of the funnymen and women are expected to take part this year, as Bognor holds its popular clowns' convention.

Butlins expects to be packed with some 4,000 staying guests. Many usually arrive by train.

Town council events officer Sue Holmes said: "It's not terribly helpful having the trains disrupted when we have got events planned.

"Unfortunately, the work has to be done at some point and it's very difficult to get the balance of the right time to do it and avoiding too much disruption.

"It's disappointing that the time chosen is the clowns' weekend but, hopefully, it will lead to a better and more reliable service.

"I would rather the work be done at this time of year than in the middle of the summer when there are more people likely to be using the trains to come here.

"It is good if people come by train to Bognor because arriving at the station takes them into the town centre so they can have a look around there.

"That is better than them driving to the seafront and not going anywhere else in the town."

She was unaware of the rail disruption. But she said it would have been impossible to move the clowns' weekend even if notice had been received.

"We organise the weekend with Clowns' International and Butlins and it has to fit in with their arrangements."

The cause of the disruption is the week-long refurbishment of the signalling equipment at Littlehampton from Monday, March 2.

A much-reduced level of service to and from that town will also lead to alterations, diversions and possible cancellations in the Bognor and Barnham area.

Clowning around

It is 25 years since the first international clowns' convention took place to make Bognor the centre of world clowning.

The heady days of the late 80s and early 90s saw a peak of a thousand clowns pack the town.

Top name performers such as Ron Moody, Ken Dodd and Jeremy Beadle joined them.

But a break between 1994 and 2006 means this year's will be the 15th convention to take place.

This year will see the clowns around the town for longer than previously in the revival.

They will visit schools from Monday, March 2 to Wednesday, March 4 to spread the art of clowning before a private workshop on Thursday, March 5.

Friday will see a big launch in Butlins for its Circus Circus weekend. It promises a host of acrobatic skills, a circus school and a Rednose Academy for budding clowns.

Saturday, March 7 will feature performances by clowns in the London Road precinct before the grand parade will pass along the seafront and town centre from 2pm on Sunday, March 8.

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