ONE NIGHT IN SHANGHAI
A Book by Eddie Haworth FRSA
Due to other projects taking over Eddie's time.
The book should be published before the end of 2025.
The Powerful Truth About a Life Lost in Bolton, England
and
Found in Shanghai, China.
Updated July 2025...
A Life of Laughter, Adventure & Giving Back
Eddie Haworth FRSA
It feels like several lifetimes ago that I ran away from home and school at 15. Since then, I’ve had more than 45 jobs, a few marriages, and proudly welcomed two children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren into the world.
My journey has taken me across continents, working as a singer, musician, street entertainer, and Circus Clown, learning my craft everywhere from Lapland to Istanbul, New York to Shanghai, and beyond. Eventually, I found a semi-settled home in Bangkok.
After years of adventure (and some questionable decisions), I discovered a deeper purpose when I founded The Gift of Happiness Foundation, a Thai-registered charity dedicated to supporting thousands of migrant families stranded in refugee camps along the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Burma.
Before the pandemic, my charity served more than 2,000 people per month, providing clothing, shoes, toys, and educational supplies, all donated by generous individuals in Bangkok. I also brought joy through clown shows, introducing many children to laughter and entertainment for the first time.
Despite this, my incredible staff and volunteers in Thailand continue our mission, traveling upcountry every month with gifts for the children and their families. I still visit Thailand at least three times a year to spread laughter to thousands more ankle-biters and their parents, creating memories that last a lifetime.
It feels like several lifetimes ago that I ran away from home and school at 15. Since then, I’ve had more than 45 jobs, a few marriages, and proudly welcomed two children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren into the world.
My journey has taken me across continents, working as a singer, musician, street entertainer, and Circus Clown, learning my craft everywhere from Lapland to Istanbul, New York to Shanghai, and beyond. Eventually, I found a semi-settled home in Bangkok.
After years of adventure (and some questionable decisions), I discovered a deeper purpose when I founded The Gift of Happiness Foundation, a Thai-registered charity dedicated to supporting thousands of migrant families stranded in refugee camps along the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Burma.
Before the pandemic, my charity served more than 2,000 people per month, providing clothing, shoes, toys, and educational supplies, all donated by generous individuals in Bangkok. I also brought joy through clown shows, introducing many children to laughter and entertainment for the first time.
Despite this, my incredible staff and volunteers in Thailand continue our mission, traveling upcountry every month with gifts for the children and their families. I still visit Thailand at least three times a year to spread laughter to thousands more ankle-biters and their parents, creating memories that last a lifetime.
A short summary of the first book...
From Shadows to Spotlight: A Life of Resilience and Recognition
The Early Years
Growing up in Manchester and Bolton, my childhood was challenging, marked by dyslexia and social exclusion. These early adversities set the stage for a life defined by perseverance. I delve into the lasting impact of early trauma and my adult pursuit of control, purpose, and meaning. My early life was characterized by poverty and feelings of abandonment due to my parents' long working hours. I recount the traumatic experiences of being sexually abused by various adults starting at age six, which profoundly affected my mental health and sense of self. This abuse continued into adolescence, leading to further struggles with identity and self-worth, and coping mechanisms such as petty crime and substance abuse.
Adulthood and Relationships
In adulthood, I describe my tumultuous relationships, including a challenging marriage marked by financial strain and infidelity. Despite becoming a parent, I struggled to connect with my children due to unresolved trauma. A severe accident in 1979 led to years of recovery and a transformative journey into street performance and buffoonery as means of survival. My travels across Europe, Lapland, Asia, and beyond exposed me to a wide spectrum of human behaviours, from the absurd to the wise, reinforcing the old Lancashire mantra "There's Nowt Su Queer as Folk." I transitioned to a more stable existence, thanks to my second wife, who helped lift me from a life of chaos. We ran a small business together in Scotland and later became travelling artists, living in various unconventional homes and travelling across Europe, Scandinavia, and the Middle East. I earned a living as a street performer and professional circus clown.
Healing and Self-Discovery
I also reflect on my inability to sustain relationships with my children and most of my grandchildren. After my second wife left and I attempted suicide, I began to confront the profound wounds inflicted during childhood. This painful reckoning marked the beginning of a long therapeutic process, which ultimately paved the way for the third and most transformative chapter of my life.
During part of my therapeutic journey, I visited poignant sites like Auschwitz and reflected on the lingering shadows of fascism and greed, expressing sorrow for past and present injustices. Intense personal experiences, including a fraught relationship in Greece and the sorrow of a loved one’s decline due to Alzheimer's, plus the brutal murder of another partner, committed by her son, my one-time stepson, underscored themes of love and grief.
From the corruption in Turkey and Arabia to the absolute poverty and generosity from the poorest people in India, I have observed contrasting facets of humanity and survival under adversity. I reflect critically on contemporary issues such as consumerism, western humanity’s obsessions with sports and celebrity worship, and I remain totally dumbfounded by the idea that human beings are still killing each other in the name of chosen religion, despite the advent of the world wide web offering overwhelming evidence that they are all nothing more than fairy stories produced in times when people were unable to question the purveyors of such ludicrous stories.
Yet, I also reflect on environmental neglect and the impact of technology on youth, highlighting a sense of generational regret. Despite the early hardships and later joyful discovery of my ability to turn my pain into joy for others, I found solace in the art of buffoonery, maintaining a museum of memories and passing on laughter as a form of connection and resilience.
Achievements and Recognition
Throughout my journey, I have been recognised for my contributions and achievements. I am the founder of a Thai registered Charity with Royal approval, and I have been recognised by many British Ambassadors since 2005 to date. I am honoured to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London and have received numerous circus industry awards. Additionally, I am a recipient of the prestigious Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship.
I conclude with my journey towards healing, which included therapy and self-exploration. I emphasize the importance of confronting past traumas and using my experiences to help others facing similar challenges. Despite numerous hardships, I continue to show a desire to help others, emphasizing the importance of confronting one’s past to move forward.