The Ken Fox Troupe

The story of the Ken Fox Troupe begins in Skegness, where Ken Fox
was born – his parents had stalls on the Amusement Park and at
weekends he would be with them.

Also on the Park was the Wall of Death owned by Roy Cripsey and
his two sons, Graham and Gary.  At the age of 13 they took Ken Fox
on as a ticket collector and so began a career which was to lead to him becoming internationally known as the World’s leading Wall of Death
rider and proprietor and to take him all round the world.

Ken says the Cripseys treated him like a son and he became
especially close to Gary who was, he says, his mentor – they
are still close friends today.

In 1981 Roy Cripsey died and the show remained in Skegness
for just one more season, Ken’s last performance here
being in September 1982.  

The question was, what to do next?  The solution came in the form of
an advertisement in the World’s Fair newspaper for a Wall of Death
rider to tour North Africa with Peter Catchpoole.  Ken applied, got the
job, and they embarked on a three-year tour taking in Nigeria, the
Middle East and Australia.

The partnership of Ken Fox and Peter Catchpoole was to last until
Peter’s death in 2001 and was probably one of the most significant in
Wall of Death history, during which they built three brand new walls. 
The wall they first used, however, was the ex Yvonne Stagg wall from Margate and which was originally the Tornado Smith one at Southend.

It was in 1994 that they built the Wall, which Ken Fox operates today
it’s first public appearance, was at the Rempstone steam rally in 1995.

Over the years, Ken has taught many others to ride the Wall but today
the Ken Fox Troupe is very much a family affair – the nucleus of the
show is Ken and his eldest son Luke ( Luke’s page). 

Kerri Cameron ( Kerri’s page), who has become a competent
rider both on bike and Go-kart in the three years she
has been with the show.

Where we are based

The Ken Fox Wall of Death is based at Wilburton, near
Ely in Cambridgeshire.

Our yard was acquired in 2004, since when a lot of work has been
done, laying hardcore and planting trees and shrubs for the
screening necessary for planning permission. Last year we were
delighted to learn that it had been granted!

For six months of the year we are, of course, based at wherever we
happen to be but we are proud to call Wilburton home – we have
many friends there and, during the winter months, Alex attends
the local school were he also has lots of friends.