It was 55 years ago on Saturday August 5, 1960, probably about 3pm and Val and I had been married exactly 3 weeks. We were living in the Causeway Flats adjacent to the Causeway in Perth WA. Val was taking a bath and I had just finished bringing the furniture off the balcony after spring cleaning our unit. We had large French doors leading onto the balcony and the curtains were about a foot (30 cm) short and left a large gap at the bottom. Out of nowhere I heard a bump against the French doors and then noticed those gigantic hairy feet, marching back and forth along our balcony with only a sheet of glass between me and what turned out to be an escaped lion from Ashtons Circus. I immediately went to the bathroom and said to Val " Get out of the bath, there is a lion on our balcony". I then opened the front door for a quick departure as Val came out of the bathroom with a towel barely covering what Val liked to cover, and she said, "What is wrong?" I pointed down at the bottom of the curtains, and in an instant my new bride covered 20 feet and was in my arms all in about half of a second. The towel was a problem, I seem to remember. We were standing at the front door ready to bolt the instant that thing broke through the glass door. Which was likely, as the lion was bumping its bum against the glass as it continually pranced up and down the balcony. Then the lady that managed the units came past and asked what we were doing. I said theres a lion on our balcony, look and pointed. She was no chicken, but with arms full of folded bed sheets she made about 5 steps at a time on her way up to the next floor. She returned shortly after and said to me "Dont leave your wife like that, get her something to put on". I should point out that I was 20 year old and she was a bossy piece of gear so I did not argue. I had to walk within a meter of the glass doors to get to the bedroom when I quickly grabbed Vals going away coat from our wedding night, and hastily retreated to the front door. I was completely stressed out by this time as the lion had been on our balcony about 15 - 20 minutes and I had had to walk passed it several times, then Val says "Not my going away coat". Being a brand new husband of only 3 weeks, I took a deep breath and said as nicely as I could through gritted teeth "Please put it on sweetheart". It probably took the circus people a good half hour to arrive with truck and trainers etc, and back it up to the balcony and put rope netting around the sides before they started coaxing the lion into the truck. The rest of the night was a night to forget, neither of us could sleep and packed up and went and woke up the in-laws at about 1 or 2 am, looking for a safe bed.
Now the reason for all the excitement. Apparently during the circuss afternoon show the lion truck was backed up to the performing ring at a slight angle and the last lion decided to jump up through the gap at the top and ran along the roof of the truck and jumped down. It then proceeded to run around Langley Park for maybe a Kilometre past 1000s of teenage girls and boys playing Basketball and Hockey etc, as they did every Saturday afternoon. The Lion was obviously totally confused and lost when it landed on our balcony. Considering Langley Park was absolutely packed with kids , it could easily have been a disaster. People said " You didnt have to worry, they are well trained" and I said, "Maybe they are but I am not, and the look on my face would have spooked it, without any doubt.
I wont quote any of the helpful, clever quotes I got from my work mates when I went to work on Monday morning. Even the boss said, " No, being a Lion Tamer does not enhance the pay rate for a Mechanical Fitter".
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Hard work never killed anybody but why take the chance.
What a great story you have to tell your grand kids. I would be in a similar state of fright if I saw that sight as well, maybe a little mark in the jocks as well.
Hope your new bride recovered and you are still together after the lion's share of a start (probably not a good joke).
Take care and safe travels
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
Yes Phil C, we are still together, in fact we go back to 7th May 1954, which was a Frid night at the Fiesta Picture Theatre in Scarborough West Aust. I was 14 and Val was 13, and I saw her at the bus stop one morning. I said to my mate Don, who is that gorgeous chick over there. He said that's Les's sister. I said to him, she is going to be mine and now 61 years latter she still is mine.
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Hard work never killed anybody but why take the chance.
After reading your very interesting story, I thought you may be interested to know that I worked for Ashton's Circus way back in 1967/ 68
My job there was a Mechanic and as part of that job I also had to drive the Truck that carried the lions, there were seven in all and they never made a sound while on the road, that was until I hit the brakes which must have made them slide forward and probably hit their heads against the head boards,
One day while driving through a small country town in South Australia, I was pulled over by a big fat Country Copper, finding that I was driving the Semi with a NZ car license, I was escorted into town where I had to park the truck right in the main street, I remember pulling up very carefully so as the lions didn't complain,
Within half a hour the boss turned up with an arm full off free tickets to the Circus, well that did the trick, then the big fat Cop in charge told a junior Constable to take me around the block, just to make sure I could drive, ( Hello, who drove the truck into town !! )
Well off we went, driving very carefully around the block and back into the main street, by then I had managed to build up a bit of speed, coming to an abrupt halt out side the police station, next thing all the lions let out with a roar that bounced off all the shop fronts and echoed all the way across town, I looked at the young Constable and he was a very pale shade of white, " What the hell was that " he asked, "OH" nothing much I said, only seven lions in the back and they are complaining because you guys have made them late for their dinner,
Well that Young Copper did a flying leap, I swear his feet never touched the ground until he was well inside the station, I walked out of there with a brand new license and funny thing, I never saw that young copper again .
K.J.
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From Coast to Coast, We'll see it all.......One Day
Hey guys they are two really great lion stories , the only story i got is when i was a little whipper snapper and i was bitten on the ankle by a dirty big black snake. I ran in to
my dad screaming that a snake had bitten me on the ankle.My dad and my uncle sam grabbed me and held me down and cut my ankle with a razor and then proceeded to suck
the poison out ,as they did back then. They took me to hospital where i stayed for a couple of days .That was about 62 years ago and i still have the scar to prove it.
It's definately not as good as the lion story,but thats my story anyway.
