Mary Chipperfield
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Mary Chipperfield was a 1970s circus entertainer who specialised in a chimpanzee act.
[edit] The Chipperfield heritage
She was the daughter of Rose Chipperfield (née Purchase, born in 1912, died March 7, 2006 aged 93). The Purchase family had a long history of travelling menageries, and Rose had a lion act herself. Two years after meeting her husband Jimmy Chipperfield the two shows amalgamated (around 1930).
After the end of World War II the circus owners travelled to Sri Lanka and bought nine elephants which then led on to further acquisitions and the growth of the circus.[1].
[edit] Christmas shows in the 1970s
Just as the BBC showed Billy Smart's Circus shows on Christmas day for several years during the 1970s, ITV would show Chipperfield's Circus in competition.
[edit] Recent controversies
Mary Chipperfield has become a controversial figure in more recent times regarding her treatment of animals in her circus. The most infamous case being the treatment of the chimpanzee 'Trudy' who was seized following criminal proceedings and taken to the 'Monkey World' sanctuary in April 1998.[2] Mary Chipperfield was found guilty of twelve counts of cruelty and fined £7,500.[3]
