THE BALLOON MAN

Trapeze artist founded South Africa's leading circus 


 

Born to fly … Madame Suzanne Wilkie performed as an aerialist as well as with animals. 
from: smh.com.au
May 18, 2012
MADAME SUZANNE WILKIE, 1931-2012
Madame Suzanne Wilkie was a French-born flying trapeze artiste and, with her British husband, founded South Africa's largest and most successful travelling circus.

She arrived in Britain in 1951 as Suzanne Gendarme, having been booked to appear in the circus at the amusement arcade at New Brighton, Merseyside, run by the showman Whilma Howe Wilkie. They married and in 1954 emigrated to South Africa.

Suzanne Gendarme was born in France on January 3, 1931. Circus was in the Gendarme blood - Suzanne's sister, Micheline, was a human boulet de canon and her brother Raymond, recently returned from the war in Algeria, joined her with another partner, to form the Flying Renols. The group soon became a leading trapeze act appearing in big tops all over Europe.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/trapeze-artist-founded-south-africas-leading-circus-20120517-1ytkk.html#ixzz1vJdhuPsR