Southend Salvo the clown retiring after 27 years in city

For the last 27 years, Salvo has been a permanent fixture in the city as he amused crowds and dished out balloons to thousands of children.

Now, he has he confirmed he is retiring and is making the “sad and heart-breaking” decision to step away and admitted numbers have been “low” in recent years.

Staple - Salvo the clown is well-known by families in Southend (Image: Gaz de Vere)

For the last seven years Salvo has been based in the High Street and spent two years situated outside the Ironworks community centre before it closed earlier this year.

Salvo has also been impacted after Qualatex Balloons, an American company where he sourced his balloons, closed its factories and ceased production of latex balloons.

Salvo in Southend High Street (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “Over the past few years, I have considered retirement but this year with the end of the actual company I get my balloons from and the low numbers, I am not willing to go and buy another lot of balloons.

“I did 34 balloons the other day, when 27 years ago I have out 100 to 200, it is quite a jump down and it is likely because I have been down at the High Street too much.

“The highlights have been trying to spread a smile on peoples faces, I’ve handed out millions of balloons and just last year I handed out 2,000.”

Salvo has become an icon in the high street and is instantly recognisable to the residents of Southend and has insisted he will continue for the rest of the summer until the end of October.

Salvo with some fellow clowns (Image: Provided)

His links to Essex stretch even further than his clown years having lived at Hart Road’s mobile home park in Thundersley since 1978.

Salvo added: “All good things must come to an end and this is one of them, the last week, weather permitting, of October will be the end.

“October half term will be the last day, it is a sad thing and it is heart-breaking.

“It is something I have toyed with for years and when you do an average of 30 balloons, is it worth three hours of it?”

Salvo has been honoured numerous times in the past decade - with artwork at the City Jam and a ribbon cutting to mark his 25th anniversary.

However, despite retiring from his spot on Southend High Street, Salvo will continue baking his "almost famous clown cakes" for the homeless and vulnerable across Southend.