In 2008 Norman Barrett celebrates an astonishing landmark in his circus career: he has been in the circus ring and under the spotlight for an incredible sixty years!

Norman's debut was at the age of twelve, with a dog and goat act in his father's circus. He later worked for many others including that of the Robert Brothers, the father and uncle of our longstanding horse trainer Tom Roberts. At the famous Bertram Mills' Circus, he quickly rose from animal presenter and trainer to Senior Ringmaster, and as Ringmaster of the famous Blackpool Tower Circus he reigned supreme for a quarter of a century.

A highlight of his career was as a subject for TVs "This is Your Life" in 1990, and he has now starred with Zippos Circus for the past six years. That greatest of all music hall comedians, Ken Dodd, said of Norman Barrett that he was "a smashing bloke and a very, very nice man... a loyal friend and a very very very nice man".