Tributes to member of a circus dynasty

A former stalwart of a legendary circus, famed for entertaining the nation every Christmas, has died aged 83.
Ring side: Tributes have been paid to Rose Polakovs, a member of the Billy Smarts Circus family - below, pictured in her days performing in the circusRing side: Tributes have been paid to Rose Polakovs, a member of the Billy Smarts Circus family - below, pictured in her days performing in the circus
Ring side: Tributes have been paid to Rose Polakovs, a member of the Billy Smarts Circus family - below, pictured in her days performing in the circus

Rose Polakovs, nee Smart, was part of the Billy Smart’s Circus dynasty, performing in the Wild West element of the circus show which aired on television every Christmas throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Mrs Polakovs, who was born in Ealing in 1931, grew up in the circus with her nine siblings, including Billy jnr, and performed around the country and in America before marrying into another circus epoch as she wed the son of Coco the Clown, Michael Polakovs.

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He had joined Billy Smart’s Circus, rivals of his father’s, and landed more than just the job of one the ringmaster’s lead clowns as he married Rose, the youngest daughter of Billy Smart snr.

Tributes to Rose Polakovs, daughter of circus legend Billy Smart and former wife of Coco The Clown Jnr, who died in South Shore after raising her large family in the resort - pictured in her days performing with Billy Smart's CircusTributes to Rose Polakovs, daughter of circus legend Billy Smart and former wife of Coco The Clown Jnr, who died in South Shore after raising her large family in the resort - pictured in her days performing with Billy Smart's Circus
Tributes to Rose Polakovs, daughter of circus legend Billy Smart and former wife of Coco The Clown Jnr, who died in South Shore after raising her large family in the resort - pictured in her days performing with Billy Smart's Circus

She then set up home in Blackpool, where Michael had performed in the Blackpool Tower Circus alongside Charlie Cairoli, while he continued to travel the world performing, and Rose’s five children - Marcus, Sirge, Akim, Sasha and Zayna - were brought up in the resort.

The grandmother of three and great-grandmother of five, remained in the resort, living in South Shore.

Marcus, 47, said: “She was full of life and very, very smart and proud, she was always impeccably dressed and always wore her Coco Chanel perfume.”

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As a young woman Mrs Polakovs rubbed shoulders with the likes of Shirley Bassey as she travelled the country performing, and in 1977 she met the Queen in a special circus show with Billy Smart’s.

Marcus added: “She’d reminisce about all those days, it was hard work, she did the dressage, but she loved it.

“She had a really good life.”

Mrs Polakovs suffered poor health in recent years, being nursed by her son and the district nurses from Bloomfield Medical Centre, and died on Thursday, October 2, from organ failure.

Her life will be celebrated at a funeral on Thursday, October 16, at 12.30pm at Carleton Crematorium.

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