Tears for a clown – farewell to Darlington’s ‘Tommy Bungle’

Mechanical engineer, kitchen designer, photographer, funeral director, teaching assistant, Punch and Judy man, Father Christmas, clown. Malcolm Singleton was a man who packed a lot into his 69 years.

His death from cancer has inspired a flood of tributes, remembering one of Darlington’s great characters.

Malcolm first discovered he had a brain tumour in July 2021, and he fought it with typical humour and dignity before passing away, peacefully, in St Teresa’s Hospice last week.

“He will be remembered as a well-loved, kind friend to a lot of people – a real softie,” said his wife, Sarah.

Malcolm, who was born and raised in Darlington, had three children – Mark, Rebecca, and Lily – as well as four grandchildren.

Malcolm Singleton (Image: Singleton family) “He was an amazing dad who supported me in everything I ever wanted to do,” said Lily. “He had a joke for everything – they were terrible dad jokes, but we still laughed.”

Malcolm was a master of reinvention, starting his career in the design room at Coles Cranes, where part of his job was taking photographs of components.

It quickly became clear he had a natural talent for photography, and he was asked by a fellow employee if he would take pictures at his wedding.

“He used two cameras to make sure he got it right – that was the kind of perfectionist he was in everything he did,” said Sarah.

His interest in photography continued to develop (he would have appreciated the pun) and he went on to launch Style Photographics from home in the 1980s.

From there, he returned to his love of design, becoming a highly regarded kitchen designer for local companies. The job required him to spend a lot of time working in Italy, leading to him falling in love with the country.

However, by 1999, he was making a living as a photographer again, launching Studio 2000 in offices in Bondgate, and running the business with Sarah until 2012.

The next reinvention came as a funeral director, setting up Saint and Forster, with the company name being inspired by his and Sarah’s grandmothers.

But perhaps the most dramatic change of direction came when a childhood birthday party was arranged for Lily. The party featured a circus skills performer known as Marko – real name Mark Taylor – and he and Malcolm hit it off.

Malcolm Singleton, as Tommy Bungle, with Mark Taylor, alias Marko (Image: Singleton family) They formed a partnership called Circus Stars On Tour, with Malcolm transforming himself into Tommy Bungle, the curly, ginger clown. If children were a bit scared of clowns, he’d be Mister Bungle instead, performing puppetry shows, including Punch and Judy.

He also played Father Christmas for several years on the Weardale Railway’s version of The Polar Express, and went on to do independent home visits as Santa.

Malcolm Singleton as Santa, on the Weardale Railway (Image: Singleton family) His last job was as a teaching assistant at the Evergreen Primary School, in Bishop Auckland, where he loved working with special-needs children. As part of his role, he developed an award-winning STEM programme, teaching pupils how to build bridges and model trains.

“Malcolm was loved by everyone at the school – staff and pupils alike,” added Sarah.

Passionate about motor sport, he enjoyed rally driving in his younger days, becoming known as ‘Rally Mally’, and loved Formula 1, especially Ferrari.

After his cancer diagnosis, Malcolm found comfort in his love of art, becoming an enthusiastic member of The Art of Survival art group, based at Darlington Hippodrome.

The group’s founder, Ken Longstaff, said: “Malcolm was a most kind and loving gentleman and we will miss him so much.”

“The brain tumour hit me like a brick wall but it’s no good just moping, is it? I want to be out doing things I enjoy,” he said in an interview about the art group in April 2023.

Other things Malcolm enjoyed included attending meetings of the local Headway charity group, and volunteering at the Tees Cottage Pumping Station, where his training as a mechanical engineer came in useful.

He was also a loyal member of the Freemasons’ Lodge of Unity, at Stockton, where he was a committed fundraiser for local charities.

Most read:

His funeral will take place at Darlington Crematorium on Tuesday, March 11, at 1pm. His wish was that everyone should wear a touch of red or yellow – the colours of his beloved Ferrari.

The service is sure to be attended by people whose lives he touched while wearing his many hats. Inevitably, there’ll be tears for a clown, but he would also want it to be an occasion that inspired plenty of smiles.

Malcolm Singleton was a man who lived life to the full and, as Mister Punch would say: “That’s the way to do it!”