Seventy years ago, in a Southampton still basking in the post-war era, the arrival of a travelling circus was a spectacle that rarely raised an eyebrow of disapproval. 

The rumble of wagons, the roar of exotic beasts, and the promise of sawdust and spangles were a cause for community-wide excitement. 

In those days, hundreds flocked to witness the stars of the sawdust ring, their faces upturned in wonder at a menagerie of performing animals that would be unthinkable in a modern circus.

But time, and with it, societal attitudes, have a way of moving on. 

The grand parades of lions, the whimsical antics of chimpanzees, the lumbering grace of elephants, and the playful performances of sea lions have gradually vanished from the big top. 

A growing awareness of animal welfare has led many local authorities to prohibit the use of circus animals. 

This shift in consciousness culminated in a government announcement in October of the preceding year, heralding a complete ban on wild creatures in English circuses, a law anticipated to take effect by the close of 2015.

Let us, however, rewind the clock to a very different time. To 1958, when the legendary Billy Smart's circus rolled into Southampton for a dazzling ten-day engagement at Mayflower Park. 

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This was not just any circus; it was a veritable institution, a travelling city of entertainment that captured the hearts and imaginations of a generation.

So immense was its popularity that the "Guv’nor" himself, the indomitable Billy Smart, proudly unveiled a brand-new big top. This colossal canvas cathedral was so vast it could welcome up to 6,000 eager spectators for each performance, a testament to the insatiable public appetite for circus marvels.

A global contingent of animal performers was the jewel in the circus's crown. 

A promotional declaration from the time boasted: "From across the world has come a great assemblage of animals – 12 polar bears from the icy wastes of the North Pole, six happy-go-lucky chimps from Africa, 11 camels and dromedaries bought from the French Foreign Legion, elephants from Siam, sea lions from California and over 80 llamas, zebras, Highland oxen, horses and ponies.”

The circus's integration into the town's life was seamless and, by today's standards, surreal. 

Birma, a magnificent three-and-a-half-ton circus elephant, became an unlikely star of local advertising. 

In a remarkable publicity stunt, a furniture shop in Southampton’s East Street employed the gentle giant to stand upon one of its mattresses, a living testament to its "luxurious comfort."

The commercial endorsements didn't stop there. 

Two of Billy Smart’s cheerful chimpanzees were enlisted to promote the sale of children's tricycles, their playful antics a surefire way to capture the attention of young families.

Meanwhile, the circus's own Windy Blow, a clown of considerable renown, could be seen extolling the virtues of the sleek Vauxhall Velox saloon motor car.

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Beyond the animal acts, a constellation of human performers captivated the audience. The air crackled with the daring feats of trapeze artists, the mesmerising skill of jugglers, the breathtaking poise of wire-walkers, and the dizzying spectacle of plate-spinners.

The circus programme promised a world of wonder. 

"A miraculous combination of tumbling and tableaux is presented by the 14-strong Atlas-Sahara troupe from Morocco," it declared, conjuring images of exotic acrobatics. 

From France, "the ace roller-skaters The Four Willets" brought a dash of continental flair to the ring.

And, of course, there were the clowns. The heart and soul of any circus, they brought gales of laughter with their orchestrated chaos. 

"Featured in a grand, noisy, clown cacophony of hilarity are the celebrated Michael and Sasha Coco, and the world’s tallest clown, Harty, together with Windy Blow," the billing proclaimed.

Harty, a man who towered at over six feet, was a cornerstone of Billy Smart's circus from 1950 to 1962. 

Born Frank Christopher Hart, he was the quintessential chief clown. A man of simple tastes, it was said of him: "A man of few possessions, a nice suit and a polished pair of shoes, a smoke or a pinch of snuff and a pint of beer was all he needed." 

His dedication was his defining feature; "Throughout his life he never stopped working and always provided for his family."

Billy Smart's visit to Southampton is a reminder of how much our society has evolved, and of the ever-changing, magic of the circus.