All of this research has given us a real insight into Fenwick Shop in Newcastle as a business in the 1930s. It makes us think of the shop in a different light too. A place where stars of the circus like Koringa visited with their crocodiles and had tea, has to be a bit legendary. The shop sold tickets for the circus and in 1947 Arthur took 1000 employees as a treat to see the circus in Newcastle.
Here is a poem inspired by Koringa from our show.
Koringa’s Poem
By PP La Bonche
Arthur was enamoured by the amazing Koringa,
Every time he saw her his eyes would linger.
To Fenwick’s shop she was a crowd bringer,
But don’t touch her croc it’ll have your finger.The world’s only female fakir,
“She balanced on swords by her neck, I hear!”
With green dust on her face she would appear,
Mesmerising her reptiles, showing no fear.For her strength and beauty she was famed,
Bertram Mills had her acts proclaimed.
The star on top of the bills she rained,
Performing dangerous acts, she never was maimed.
