Clive Gillman’s life was so unusual that people often doubted the stories I told about my big brother.
He went to his first circus show at 6 years old, and decided then he was going to become a lion trainer. First, he had to save the donkey the circus was planning to feed to the lions. He untethered the donkey and led it home. Our nanny, hearing the donkey braying, went to Clive’s room. There it was, chewing the straw mattress. While dreaming about his future he honed his training skills on pets.
At age 12 he said he was 16 and got his first job as a jockey. At 16 he became the world’s youngest lion trainer. In his many years with the circus he had dog, chimp, elephant, pig and clown acts.
He was an international flower dealer – his proteas went to the White House – he was also a bee keeper, mechanic, miner, fitter, soldier, farmer, plumber and custodian of the Stanford DR church’s bell for many years.
Clive leaves behind his wife Pearl, three daughters Elizabeth, Gina and Louis, grandson Triston and brother Donald.
QBorn 20 May 1942 died 22 November 2022
