“The arrival of a good clown exercises more beneficial influence upon the health of a town than of twenty asses laden with drugs.“ As far back as the 17th Century, when Dr. Thomas Syndenham made this comment, we knew that laughter was beneficial to our health. The Bible even recognizes the benefits of humour. “A Merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bone“ (Proverbs 17:22) Our society has given credence to diet and exercise almost to the exclusion of a sense of inner well being and joy.

With their colourful costumes, friendly painted faces and big red noses,