Tweedy given honour after getting named in New Year’s list

Tweedy the Clown has finally received his British Empire Medal after being named in King Charles III’s ^[1] very first New Year Honours list.

Presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire ^[2] Edward Gillespie inside the big top with the Giffords Circus company watching on, Tweedy got the nod for “services to the circus”.

With the circus currently at Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe, “it’s a big honour to receive the medal”, Tweedy said. “Initially it was a great surprise because I had no idea anybody had nominated me”.

Tweedy goes on to explain that he nearly didn’t get his honour as “the email got lost and I don’t know how it happened. They tried to get hold of me via my agent, who thought it was a joke. I realised that it wasn’t a joke!”

Medallist of the Order of the British Empire is the full title of Tweedy’s honour, explains Edward Gillespie, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. “It’s for the circus and community in Stroud ^[4]”, Edward said.

Tweedy performing at Giffords Circus

“Tweedy is deeply involved in the community, particularly in Stroud, across Gloucestershire and for all I know elsewhere as well. I’m thrilled and I’m a big fan of the circus and a big fan of people giving time out for the community”.

Director of Giffords Circus Cal McCrystal said: “Giffords Circus is proud to congratulate Tweedy on his richly deserved recognition in the New Year Honours list. We applaud his services to the Arts, his professionalism, his generosity of spirit, his dedication to the local community through his charity work - but most of all, we thank him for his comic genius which brings utter joy to audiences of all ages throughout the year”.

As a well-known character at the heart of Giffords Circus ^[5] for over 15 years, and also doing his bit for charities such as Home Start Stroud and Gloucester, Allsorts and Maggies in Cheltenham, being a clown means “you have this licence to be as silly as you like”, Tweedy said. “You can get away with so much just to bring joy to people is the greatest thing”.

References

^{^} King Charles III’s (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} Gloucestershire (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} Cheltenham leisure centre offers free swim and gym to food bank users (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} Stroud (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} well-known character at the heart of Giffords Circus (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)