Nicolai Polakovs, Coco The Clown

Nicolai Polakovs ran away from home in Latvia when he was 8 years old. He joined a circus, eventually finding his way to England where he became very famous as Coco The Clown. He lived at Woodnewton and the circus's winter quarters were just the other side of Oundle, at Polebrook. This is the gravestone in the churchyard at Woodnewton.
Nicolai's son, Michael, carried on the tradition as Coco the Clown and was involved with McDonald's in developing the Ronald McDonald character. He appeared in the early adverts as Ronald McDonald. Two of Michael's sons are also clowns, one appearing as Coco the Clown and the other as Coconut the Clown.
Coco the Clown was trained originally by Lazernko, a famous Russian clown. After a serious road accident he became a campaigner for improved road safety and was awarded an OBE.

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  People & Blogs

[Anton Polakovs]

He was my great grand father

[Andrew Burbidge]

Is it true that Coco the Clown was the inspiration for Ronald McDonald?

[TOTHC63609]

where is he burried?

[Andrew Burbidge]

This headstone marks the grave, at Woodnewton in Northamptonshire.

[Sephtacular]

We'll miss you CO-CO the clown, you gave many children sleepless nights.

[Andrew Burbidge]

He was the most famous and most popular clown in the UK.

[Nicole Wickham]

my name is alex nicolie rowland my great grandad was nicolai (coco origonal) i think he passed away try and find you on facebook as am trying to do family tree, my dad has got loads of photos from circus which im putting up fb maybe you can spot your nan

[woodybarn66]

i wonder.

[noahluvssveggietales]

was he dead?

[TOTHC63609]

thanks 

[Miles Brown]

my grandad was a drummer with bertram mills for 7 olympias :)

he knew Nicolai very well and was good friends with on of his sons Sascha or Sasha could anyone give me any information on Sasha is he still alive??

My grandad would really like to know

My nan also was with the circus she was a show girl :)

Thanks

[Andrew Burbidge]

Thanks for this information. I see that Michael was involved with McDonald's in developing the Ronald McDonald character and he appeared in the early adverts as Ronald McDonald.