Protests Against Bobby Roberts Circus
Northampton
Campaigners protested outside Bobby Roberts circus in Northampton over the Easter weekend. The circus had been allowed to set up on council-owned land despite a ban on animal circuses. This prompted complaints to Northampton Borough Council who now say they will be reviewing their policy to see if this has been breached.
Bobby Roberts circus has performing horses and dogs as well as Anne, an elderly elephant, who no longer performs but is taken into the ring during intervals for photo opportunities.
Some members of the public changed their minds after talking to protesters and turned away. Others who attended the performances were not happy with what they saw. One couple, who said they had experience of horses, approached protesters after a performance concerned about the welfare of the horses. They said the horses were lame and their bits appeared to be too tight.
The protests also attracted attention from the local media and were reported in the Northampton Chronicle and Echo:
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Big-top-protests-in-Northampton .3904837.jp
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Council-to-review-animal-circus .3941912.jp
Huntingdon
The following week Bobby Roberts circus visited Huntingdon Racecourse near Brampton in Cambridgeshire and Cambridge Animal Rights organised demonstrations outside the circus and leafleting in the Huntingdon town centre. These protests attracted much media attention and featured on both local radio and TV. There was also a report in the Cambridge Evening News:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=301 284
Protesters were also threatened by Moria Roberts from Bobby Roberts circus. Incidents occurred on Wednesday 26th and Saturday 29th March, on which date Moira Roberts received a warning from police for her behaviour. A full report of the incidents can be found on IndyMedia:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/cambridge/2008/04/395225.html
This article also includes an account written by a customer of the circus upset by what they witnessed during and after the performance (scroll down the page for this account).
Hitchin
The week following their appearance at Huntingdon Bobby Roberts circus visited Hitchin in Hertfordshire. Once again campaigners were out in force protesting against the use of animals in circuses and once again members of the public were supportive with some deciding against visiting the circus and others becoming upset by what they saw in the ring. You can view a report and video on North Herts Vegetarians and Vegans website:
http://www.nhvegetariansandvegans.org.uk/html/news.html
The story was also covered in the Comet local paper: