It’s a story about a man who ran away with Europe’s largest circus company and found love in the Isle of Man.

Dan Kirk was only 14 when he left home after being inspired by Gandey’s Circus workers whom he knew and watching the big tents being set up opposite his school in Cheshire.

More than 40 years on, Dan has settled near Peel on the Switchback Road with his Manx wife, Lauren, and four children.

Dan said: ’Joining the circus was more of an adventure. I wasn’t getting much out of school and was struggling a little bit.’

He began helping to build the circus tents while his school watched on from across the road before deciding to join Gandey’s charity circus called ’Circus Starr’.

Like today, the performers put on shows for children with disabilities, families on low incomes, or those facing challenges such as domestic violence or life-limiting conditions.

’I worked as a general worker until I learnt the crowd swing and then the trapeze,’ he said. He soon picked up a range of skills and, before Dan knew it, he was giving his debut performance of the crowd swing.

’The spotlight hit my eyes and I walked out to a crowd of 1,500 people. I’ll never forget the buzz it gave me and there was no safety net,’ he said.

Once while doing the crowd swing, he fell and landed on his face. Dan was back swinging 10 days later following x-rays and his doctor telling him he was all good to go.

’It’s very painful, circus work. It’s left scars on my body from rope burns, but I will never have a job like it,’ he said.

’Gandey’s has made me the person I am today. I’m very hard working and my work ethic of not wanting to let people down has come from Gandey’s. It teaches you to muck in and survive out on the roads.’

Coming to the island to work briefly for family at A3 Island Marquees, Dan met Lauren (nee Caley) a farmer’s daughter from Ballaspur Farm, St John’s, at a pub when they were both aged 23.

’As clichéd as it is, it was love at first sight,’ he said. ’We were engaged within six weeks of meeting and were married in May the following year. It all happened real quickly!’

The couple have four children Harrison, aged 19, Doona, 16, Lochlan, 15, and Torin, four.

Doona is currently studying physical education and is going on to learn sport massage. She’s hoping to go into the circus using these qualifications. She can also do the hula hoop and fire poi acts and Lochlan can do a number of juggling acts.

Dan also performs plate spinning and fire breathing at private and public events.

Although the engineer left the circus 20 years ago, he remains part of the family and will lend a helping hand along with his kids whenever the circus is in town.

Gandey’s Circus is back again from April 2 to April 6 at Noble’s Park, Douglas. For 2020, it’s celebrating 35 years since it first visited the island and will be raising funds towards Hospice Isle of Man.