London's annual clown memorial service for Joey Grimaldi, father of modern clowndom

NK Guy sez, "Every year dozens of clowns gather in a London church to celebrate the life of Joey Grimaldi, the father of modern clowndom, who died in 1837. They also mourn the passing of any fellow clowns who may have died that year."

I used to have an office around the corner from Exmouth Market, Grimaldi's former home, and I loved to stop and admire his blue disc (alas, my landlords went batshit and I had to move; luckily I found new digs right under the marvellous London Hackpspace).

Born of an Italian father and an English mother in 1778, Grimaldi lived and worked in the world of London theatre. His talent for physical comedy made him a massive superstar of his age, though Grimaldi's life fell into a predictable pattern of tragedy, and he died broken and crippled in Islington, age 58.
Since the war, British clowns have been holding a special memorial service each February to celebrate the life of this founder of British clowndom. And since the 60s Holy Trinity Church in Hackney has permitted them to attend in full clown regalia. The event is organised by the Clowns International group, who also maintain a small clown museum in Wookey Hole.

Joseph Grimaldi memorial service and Chinese New Year.

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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monstrinho_do_biscoito

no-one likes clowns, except other clowns.
Leeloona

Don’t forget the April Fools Day international PIE NOON! PIE FIGHT @ Noon, or at least pie someone then!
IWood

IN before the coulrophobics.
cellocgw

Clown fest!
Come on down! Everybody floats, down here!
lessthanzen

Allow me to introduce “The Clown Killer” can be used at circuses or Insane Clown Posse shows: http://plundercorp.blogspot.com/2010/09/bobo-sanction.html
Taro 3Yen

As lifelong clown, I honor our patriarch of clowndom.
Scurra

His grave in Grimaldi Park, about half-way down the Pentonville Road, is a lovely piece of work, and well maintained too. As long as there are clowns, he won’t be forgotten.
Anonymous

You only posted this article so you could write “Wookey Hole”
turn_self_off

Hmm, i hope that floor/roof between your office and the hackspace is reinforced and non-flammable.
Donald Petersen

Could he also be the world’s first Joey? I can’t say I ever heard of anyone born in the 18th century who used that nickname.

I think there’s a Joey Grimaldi who runs the Jiffy Lube down on Lankershim.
lessthanzen

Top secret clown eradication device: http://tinyurl.com/4el7hy4
Anonymous

Why do many people find clowns scary?