Zippo's circus made its annual visit to Twickenham Green over the past week and it hosted some special guests.

The circus welcomed the Mayor of Richmond Upon Thames, Cllr Suzette Nicholson with her husband John; Twickenham MP Munira Wilson; and Natalie O'Rourke MBE from Teddington's Park Lane Stables, the area's Riding for the Disabled centre.

Through the circus' Community Action Scheme they also welcomed a number of families connected with Twickenham Family Contact Centre.

Zippo's operates the Scheme to 'give something back' to local people as thanks for their loyal support.

The Centre is just over the road from Twickenham Green, and the manager says children have seen the Big Top in the past and asked how they could go to the show, so she was delighted to take up this opportunity. 

Natalie O'Rourke, Cathy Cooper and Munira Wilson MP. (Photo Credit: Cathy Cooper).

Circus Director Beau Denning said: 'It's a huge honour to be asked to receive the Mayor of Richmond and Twickenham's MP on their official visits.  Zippo's Circus has visited Twickenham Green annually for many years now, and we always look forward to welcoming old friends and making new ones!"

Before the show, the Civic couple met some of the performers, including clown Whimmy Walker, whose great-great-grandfather was Queen Victoria's favourite clown, and Paulo Dos Santos, international aerialist and comedian from Brazil. 

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Other members of the company originate from across the globe, representing Ukraine, Mongolia, Morocco, the Czech Republic, Colombia, Spain and Kenya, giving Richmond and Twickenham an 'official' opportunity to celebrate international friendship and cooperation.