Wandsworth Common

The occupant of a prefabricated house on Wandsworth Common can testify to the shooting power of Pat Terry, the 20-year-old centre forward who had just signed professional forms for Charlton Athletic. On Sunday morning Terry took a stroll across the Common to watch a match. The ball came his way, and he just had to kick it — straight through the window and into the living-room of the prefab.

Men with ropes were to set out to try to catch Bill, the "killer" swan of Wandsworth Common. For twenty-five years Bill had reigned over the pond — but recently he had been terrorising his kingdom by killing ducks, driving off other birds, and attacking dogs. Now he even scared children, said Wandsworth park officials.

"Europe's Largest Circus Returns to South London — 200 Animal Show to Open on Wandsworth Common, Aug. 16th, for One Week Only." Chipperfields Circus brought over 200 animals including 16 elephants, 70 horses, polar and brown bears, lions, camels, a giraffe, llamas, pelicans and sea lions, together with Roman chariot racing and arena track events. The big top seated 6,000. Shows daily at 4.45 and 7.45; Sundays at 2pm, 4.45, and 7.45. Tickets available at Hardwick's, Wandsworth High Street.

[Chipperfields was one of the great British circus dynasties. The family had been in the circus business since the seventeenth century. By the 1950s they were staging some of the largest touring shows in Europe, and a visit to Wandsworth Common would have been a major event for local children.]