luke danniells' photostream  

Most of Captain Bobs Circus (where were you Scott). In the begining there was Captain Bobs a group of people who came together on Weston island an old and forgotten island in the middle of the river Avon in Bath England. The island was once used to make cranes by a company called sparrows. Once Sparrows left the island they left behind two factory buildings one enormous and one smaller which i think was named toby. story contiues on next photograph...

Most of the people who lived on Weston island were performers of one kind or another. One night while sitting at a long table inside Boris the big shed it was decided to form a circus. people came and went but there was a definate nucleus and these people became Captain Bobs Circus. At this point i became involved. I was there the night the circus was born and asked if it was ok if i could come down to the island and photograph. What i have to say was so special for me, was these amazing creative people most of which didnt know me gave me total free rein to come and go as i pleased. I at the time was learning what is now my profession, photography. I will for ever remember and thank Captain Bobs as there acceptance of me wandering around their lives with my camera made me realise that this is what i wanted to do. more on next pic

So rehearsals began and at first it all looked a little shambolic however due to their drive and vision a show was performed in Boris the big shed. During this time street shows were being performed on a daily basis in order to feed the circus and the local newspaper started to run pictures and stories about Captain Bobs. PHL Holdings LTD the company that owned Weston island (a subsidiary company of Kevin Maxwell, kevin being the son of robert maxwell)became aware their island was inhabited. For a while PHL Holdings LTD didnt mind Captain Bobs on there island as they realised that having them on the island was keeping out the more undesirable people it had been attracting. Once it came to there attention that a show was going to be performed on the island they sent two suited men down to the island at ten o clock at night. The men attached to the door of Boris the big sheds door an eviction notice should Bobs want to contest this they could at court at nine thirty the next morning in London. go to next pic.

Not ones to be beaten Bobs sent two people who drove up in a van that night and slept outside the courts in the van.Bobs won the right to perform one show as long as they agreed to vacate the island within a week . What a show it was and being true to their word the island was left but the legend that was Captain Bobs lives on...............

shot during the Aib street performance world championships. bit of photoshop involved here just to bleach out the sky and give a strong silhouette.