A group of amateur detectives pored over the evidence for an enduring piece of local folklore at Boojum&Snark on Saturday evening.
The tale of All Colours Sam, aka The Sandown Clown, a mysterious robot-like figure said to have appeared to two children near Scotchell’s Brook in 1973.
The story of the sighting is covered in an article OnTheWight published a couple of years ago, which also features the great video by Marek Larwood (aka Cool Dudes Walking Club) chronicling a three-mile exploration along public footpaths near Sandown Airport and Lake Common.
Working through the evidence
Watched over by an eight-foot sculpture of Sam (created by Goldsmiths’ Lecturer David Jones), investigators Teresa Grimaldi and Tracy Mikich set out the theories for the apparition.
Was Sam a visiting alien, a figment of the children’s imagination or even a prank perpetrated by Ringo Starr and David Essex, stars of the movie That’ll Be The Day which was filmed in the area around that time?
By the end of the evening, the detectives had asked plenty of questions, but reached no firm conclusion about any of the theories, and the search for the truth about The Sandown Clown goes on.
Take a look yourself
The Evidence Board is ongoing and open to the public this Friday (11th July 2025) between 11am and 7pm.
There’s also a creative writing drop-in with Brevity between 3pm-7pm if you are prompted to put pen to paper and share your unusual sightings.
Boojum and Snark came be found at 105 High St, Sandown PO36 8AF.
Our thanks to Sandown Hub for sharing their write up from the night. Ed
