Portrait of ‘Whimsical Walker’ by Lucy Kemp-welch (1869-1958)

Portrait of ‘Whimsical Walker’ aka Thomas Dawson Walker (1851-1934) by Lucy Kemp-Welch (1869-1958)

Oil on canvas

Size: 20 x 16 ins.

Initial "L.K.W." lower left

Lucy Kemp-Welch was a circus enthusiast and followed Lord George Sanger’s Circus (1854-1911) around for a number of years. 'Whimsical Walker' was one of the best known pantomime artistes and circus performers of the late 19th early 20th century. He was also a clown and an acrobat. There is quite a lot written about him. ' Mention the name "Whimsical Walker" and many different versions of who he was will be presented. This is the definitive outline:

Whimsical Walker toured the world 3 times, during the fourteen years he was with Hengler's Circus; and played 21 seasons in pantomime at the Drury Lane Theatre.

He came into the world on 21st July 1851, as Thomas Henry (Dawson) Walker - the son of the landlady of the inn The March of Intellect, in Hull, and Robert Stanley Walker, an advance man for Cooks' Circus.

At the age of eight he was performing in Pablo Fanque's circus. He learnt all aspects of the business, and became an equestrian; tumbler; ropewalker; clown and all-round adept circus performer.

He was a frequent visitor to America - having visited 16 times. His first visit was in 1874 with a contract to John Murray's Railroad Circus. It was some eight years later (October 1882) before he returned to the UK.

In 1887, whilst with Barnum & Bailey, he purchased 'Jumbo' the elephant for them, from the London Zoological Gardens, for the sum of £2000. The fee was more than paid back in just a few performances.

Walker put on a profitable pantomime presentation of W. S. Gilbert's The Three Wishes, at the Metropolitan Alcazar Theatre, New York - thus becoming the only person to put on a successful English pantomime (in America) in his day. However, he became bankrupt due to a defective theatre balcony.

In 1886 he was commanded to appear at the first Royal Command Performance, staged at Windsor Castle, before Queen Victoria. His last performance before royalty was for the first visit to a circus of the Princess Elizabeth in 1934. He died later that year (10th November) in Gorleston-on-Sea, aged 83.' (Written by Robert Breen - great grandson of Whimsical Walker)