Like many young boys when the circus rolled into town, the excitement of the Big Top and the promise of adventure called to him.
But while the ringmaster whirled around the ring and tightrope walkers hung suspended above his captivated head, Henry’s eyes fixed on the jugglers.
“I’ve been into juggling pretty much since I was a kid,” said Henry.
“I started just juggling balls and then moved onto juggling fire objects when I was 14. I then moved onto knives, axes and pretty much anything I could get my hands on.”
In the end, Henry did not run off with the circus.
But fast forward ten years and juggling is still very much at the heart of the young Scot’s life.
“This weekend I opened the doors on what I’m pretty sure is Edinburgh’s first juggling shop,” said Henry, 24, with a laugh.
“Saturday is World Juggling Day after all so it seemed auspicious.”
Now open in Newington in Edinburgh, Cascade Juggling has packed shelves of everything a juggler could want and more.
“We’ve got circus skills stuff for juggling along with hula hoops and unicycles and others,” explains Henry. “We’ve got a range of stuff for enthusiasts, beginners and professionals too.”
Henry began his idea for the shop back in university when he started an online shop for juggling equipment.
“But then I saw this shop space come up and I thought I might as well go for it. Fingers’ crossed it all works out. The customers so far really seem to like it so we’re off to a good start.”
So Happy World Juggling Day everybody! If you end up popping by Henry to try your hand at juggling Tweet us a wee snap of your expert skills to @STVEdinburgh and we might use it.