jeanette .to my knowledge there was no connection with canal boatmen, there was a suggestion that grandma annie manders nee weston , had romany ties not sure if its true or not. i spent a lot of time with grandma, she never mentioned anything about it . though she was into reading palms and tea leaves that i can vouch for. she was a strong willed woman she had to be it was a very hard life. they were a family that kept pretty much to themselves.they sold the menagerie in 1936 iwas 3-4 years old,i have a few memories of it,i was nearly scalped by lioness my uncle albert pulled me out of the way, mum said john if you had been 3 inches taller you would have lost the top of your head. best regards john