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Florence Shufflebottom
Florence Shufflebottom (12 December 1931 – 25 October 2014) was a fairground performer, sharpshooter and snake-charmer who became known as the 'British Annie Oakley'.[1] Early life and family historyFlorence was born into a family of circus performance. Her paternal grandfather was William Shufflebottom (1850s–1916), who worked as a Buffalo Bill impersonator under the name 'Texas Bill'.[2] He and his wife, Rosina (1872–1937) had ten children, including Florence's father Richard Shufflebottom.[2] Rosina was also a snake-charmer, going on to outlive William, who died in 1916 after being crushed by a horse during a performance.[2] Following his father's death, Richard and two of his brothers, Wally and William, toured the UK with their own Wild West inspired show, eventually setting up the Colorado Family Troupe.[2][1] Professional lifeFrom a young age, Florence was involved in the family show, performing as a snake-charmer from the age of five, and as a target for her father's knife-throwing act.[1] She was known for a trick called 'The Kiss of Death' where she would place the head of a snake inside her mouth.[1] She was best known for her skills as a sharpshooter. Using a Winchester .22, she performed a variety of tricks, earning her a reputation as the 'British Annie Oakley'.[1] Her career ended abruptly after an accident in which she shot her mother in the knuckle, having been knocked by a boy in the audience of a show.[1] She married her husband Robert Campbell in 1957 and the two went on to more business ventures, including running a Selby bingo hall. Later life and legacyIn 1994 Florence and her husband gave a donation to the National Fairground and Circus Archive at The University of Sheffield, comprising their family collection.[1] She died in 2014 at the age of 82, and her body was cremated at Cottingley Crematorium.[3] References
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