11 amazing pictures of Telford in 1977 - how many do you recognise?
Ade Blount was a silly idiot. A bit harsh, maybe, but they were his own words.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Complete with his comic hat and face mask, the 16-year-old sixth-former from Blakemore on Telford's Brookside estate decided in March 1977 that it would be a good idea to hire himself out to bring a bit of mirth to people's lives. Which wasn't that silly at all, really.
Explaining his reasoning, Ade added: "I was just thinking that people in Telford are so apathetic, spending all their time moaning and I thought it would be a good idea to do something constructive.
"I have always regarded myself as a silly idiot, always one for having a laugh, so I thought of setting up this service."
Among his services, he was offering to become a target for wet sponges at charity events.