"That Fat Bloke from Bolton"
"Not that well known Comedian bloke, BTW"
A true story
of the cracks that shaped a child from Bolton, and the light that found its way through.
Written by Eddie Haworth,
former pupil at St Beeds Primary School, Morris Green and Hayward Secondary Modern, Bolton
About My Book, Crackmask
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Crackmask is my story, told the only way I know how. I grew up in Bolton in circumstances that would make most people run for the hills, and at one point I very nearly didn’t make it out at all. There was an attempted murder that could easily have ended everything before my life had even begun. I don’t go into gory detail in the book, but I do explain how that moment became the turning point. It was the day I decided I was done being a victim and I was going to be a survivor, whatever it took. Oddly enough, that determination eventually led me into a life of buffoonery. I became a silent slapstick performer, a circus teacher, a charity founder, and a man who has spent far too much time falling over in front of large crowds.
Over the last forty years, I managed to entertain almost a million people, and that really isn’t an exaggeration. I’ve performed in jungle hill tribe villages in Southeast Asia, the only French cabaret in Shanghai, posh old colonial venues in Bombay, Singapore and Indonesia, beside John Lennon’s star in Central Park, across the UAE, and in pretty much every major city in Europe. I even ended up doing a couple of shows in Inuit settlements in Lapland, which wasn’t something I ever expected when I first learned to juggle. And of course there was my time in Toxteth, Liverpool in the 1990s, when it was still a no‑go zone for the police (or Scouse-Bizzies), and I taught circus skills to any scallies brave enough to give it a go. |
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One of the real highlights was performing in front of Robin Williams, who wandered into my big top circus tent in Southport and laughed so hard he practically rolled into the aisles. That was in the mid‑1990s, when I was also working alongside legends like Sir Ken Dodd, Norman Wisdom and Ron Moody, yes, Fagin himself. And every now and then I’d cross paths with Paul O’Grady, better known as Lily Savage, who was tearing up the cabaret scene at the time. They were all kind enough not to laugh at me when I wasn’t supposed to be funny, which is more than I can say for some audiences.
This book is not a celebrity memoir. It is a collection of true stories from a life lived a little more than slightly sideways. Some parts are funny, some parts are painful, and some parts will make you wonder how I managed to survive long enough to write any of it down. But underneath all the chaos and comedy, Crackmask is really about something simple and important. It is about refusing to let the worst moments of my life define the rest of it. It is about finding resilience in unlikely places, discovering joy where none should exist, and learning that even the most damaged beginnings do not have to decide the ending.
If you enjoy real stories of survival, adventure, comedy, and the occasional moment of complete chaos, you will feel right at home here. And if you have ever wondered whether a person can climb out of the darkest places and still build a life full of meaning, mischief, and unexpected magic, Crackmask will give you the answer.
This book is not a celebrity memoir. It is a collection of true stories from a life lived a little more than slightly sideways. Some parts are funny, some parts are painful, and some parts will make you wonder how I managed to survive long enough to write any of it down. But underneath all the chaos and comedy, Crackmask is really about something simple and important. It is about refusing to let the worst moments of my life define the rest of it. It is about finding resilience in unlikely places, discovering joy where none should exist, and learning that even the most damaged beginnings do not have to decide the ending.
If you enjoy real stories of survival, adventure, comedy, and the occasional moment of complete chaos, you will feel right at home here. And if you have ever wondered whether a person can climb out of the darkest places and still build a life full of meaning, mischief, and unexpected magic, Crackmask will give you the answer.
CRACKMASK is now officially in the British Library.
EDDIE HAWORTH FRSA
(Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts) IMPORTANT LINK TO EDDIE'S BOOK: https://www.crackmask.com/ |
The mask has cracked, and the book is out.
My memoir, Crackmask, is now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. It’s the story I never thought I’d tell... And now it’s yours to read. How to Get a Copy You can buy Crackmask on Amazon using the link on this site. It is quick, simple, and you will not have to deal with me directly, which some people may consider a bonus. If you prefer a signed copy, or you simply enjoy the thrill of emailing an ageing buffoon from Bolton, now living in Southport, you can order one from me. I do not have any fancy payment systems, and I have to charge postage, but you will get a personal message and a book that has travelled further than most people. Just use the contact form, and I will reply as soon as I can. |
Eddie will be at Boxpark Liverpool on 2nd August for the La Vida Book Festival. Just look for the old bloke with my high unicycle and a table full of Crackmask. There's gonna be over 60 authors, special guests, talks, short films, artisan stalls, live music, kids' activities, and, of course, the fantastic street food Boxpark is famous for. You can get tickets to join us at Skiddle via ‘Roll & Pitch links’ in our bio!
#liverpoolbookfestival #books #book #rollandpitch #liverpool
#liverpoolbookfestival #books #book #rollandpitch #liverpool
If you fancy a day out in Southport... Eddie will be at The Museum of Buffoonery: Wayfarers Arcade Address: 40, Wayfarers Arcade, Southport PR8 1NT. Most afternoons through the summer, ready to sign books and talk nonsense with anyone who pops in. If you want to be sure he hasn’t escaped for a brew, contact Eddie beforehand.
Anyone WORLDWIDE can follow the journey... Find (And Review) this book on Amazon
(only available on Kindle in some parts of South East Asia)
Anyone WORLDWIDE can follow the journey... Find (And Review) this book on Amazon
(only available on Kindle in some parts of South East Asia)
When my future-ex-wife, Sue, came right across the country just to buy my book… I wore my Happy-Day's shirt!
See Eddie's TV Documentary for free before you buy CRACKMASK!
I am fortunate to have permission to share this award winning TV Documentary. I hope you enjoy my sometimes harrowing story with a happy ending...
THAT FAT BLOKE FROM BOLTON...
“That Fat Bloke from Bolton” wins in IndieFEST Film Awards! By CoJo Productions, Sydney, Australia
The producers of this film, Pru Colville and Jon Matthews, of CoJo Productions, have won a prestigious Award of Merit from the IndieFEST Film Awards. The award was given for their documentary, “That Fat Bloke from Bolton”, which explores the life of Eddie Haworth FRSA, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Following his remarkable story, CoJo Productions has created a powerful tale of the human spirit, as they discover Eddie’s journey over continents and decades...
The producers of this film, Pru Colville and Jon Matthews, of CoJo Productions, have won a prestigious Award of Merit from the IndieFEST Film Awards. The award was given for their documentary, “That Fat Bloke from Bolton”, which explores the life of Eddie Haworth FRSA, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Following his remarkable story, CoJo Productions has created a powerful tale of the human spirit, as they discover Eddie’s journey over continents and decades...
Eddie's Links: https://www.crackmask.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/eddie.haworth - https://www.gohappiness.org/ - https://www.museumofbuffoonery.org/#/ - https://www.clowneckie.com/
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Copyright protection notice and warning.
Eddie Haworth FRSA AKA Dr Percey Veer is not a professional photographer by any means; he enjoys taking shots of what he considers to be often overlooked or just plain pleasant to look at. None of the images published here is meant to be used for photo competitions, etc, but they all have copyright to protect them from others using them without permission.
Dr Percey Veer is a long-established EQUITY member with unlimited access to Legal Services. Any infringement of copyright will be pursued, regardless of where such violations occur (worldwide).
You may purchase any of the images published on https://www.that-fat-bloke-from-bolton-uk.org/. Please make contact here.
"ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE GIFT OF HAPPINESS FOUNDATION".
Comments to [email protected]
Eddie Haworth FRSA AKA Dr Percey Veer is not a professional photographer by any means; he enjoys taking shots of what he considers to be often overlooked or just plain pleasant to look at. None of the images published here is meant to be used for photo competitions, etc, but they all have copyright to protect them from others using them without permission.
Dr Percey Veer is a long-established EQUITY member with unlimited access to Legal Services. Any infringement of copyright will be pursued, regardless of where such violations occur (worldwide).
You may purchase any of the images published on https://www.that-fat-bloke-from-bolton-uk.org/. Please make contact here.
"ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE GIFT OF HAPPINESS FOUNDATION".
Comments to [email protected]