President of World Clown Association gets job in a care home

Lound Hall Nursing Home in Suffolk has now got its very own professional clown who is also president of the World Clown Association.

Andrew Davis is the care home’s new activities coordinator.

He has been a clown full time since 2007 and got into clowning 22 years ago, when he was asked to step in to entertain 50 children in the theatre of an entertainment complex he worked at. He said: “I knew nothing of entertainment, but I could copy what I'd seen the others do for a show. So I did. Never did I imagine how this would change my life.”

He joined the World Clown Association in 2012. Since then he has performed in many places across the world, including a two-week stint outside the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas. He is also believed to be the first person to clown on the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

Mr Davis was made president of the association in March 2019. However since starting work at Lound Hall, ‘Andy the Clown’ has only made an appearance once.

He said: “There is a time and place to clown. Caring is a serious business but I’m sure ‘Andy the Clown’ will pop in from time to time. What I have brought to Lound Hall, I hope, is a new dimension to the fun and smiles. I've dyed my hair, worn bright colours, organised sensory activities, one to one sessions and given compassion to the residents. Clowning isn't always about being silly or wearing a red nose. Clowning comes from the heart.”

He added: “Clowning is great. It's nothing like the media portrays, my true clown has compassion and feelings for others. The gift of laughter is special, as is the opportunity to make memories that my audiences keep with them for a lifetime. I know how lucky and truly blessed I am to have this opportunity.”

Andrea Deakins, manager of Lound Hall, has found Andrew Davis “has brought so many new ideas to Lound Hall and is very popular with the residents”. She said: “We are very lucky to have him as part of our team.”

Lound Hall Nursing Home provides both long and short term residential and nursing care, palliative/end of life care and continuing care for the older person, as well as respite and post-operative care. It is rated ‘Good’ by CQC.

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