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Ballroom Dancing Days

I was born in 1962  and at the age of 4yrs went to a dance school in blackhall called Hall dance school Does any one know Bob and Doris at the time they may not be alive now they were the Dance teachers at the time. I met some good friends and went all over the north east Dancing in competions. I won trophies gallore especially with girl called Carole Brumwell this was her maiden. She was the best person i ever danced with. We went to Blackpool in the late sixties to dance in the ballroom tower Bob Hall our dance teacher set up our Dance Formation team which we performed at Blackpool. I cannot remember how well we did But i can remember coming back with a cup that both Carole and i had won. We shared it for a year then we gave it back.
I have fond memories of my mother and me winning parent and child competion doing the Boston two step this was in Blackpool too.
Nearly every Sunday there was a comp somewhere in the North east and i can remember coming home tired and taking our hair full of pins out and putting them into a box ready for the next time all this was done in the private bus on our way home. The dance dresses were beautiful one better than another in the intervals i can remember running around the dance hall picking up the fallen sequins that had fallen off the dresses and putting the in to a tin ready for my next Ballgown. Has any one out there got some memories like that?
I had private lessons every Saturday and can remember going to the fish shop for some chips .( The fishshop is still there opposit the school ) or i would take some soup for myself and my little sister who danced as well. We did a show that people came to see South Pacific I was one of the Sailors. Bobs daughter Elaine Hall organised it She later went on to marry Ken Parks he was a Dance Judge at many organisations. He used to go around the Dance schools examining dancers.
I had a good childhood and have fond memories of my Dancing Days all around the North East and of Blackpool in the Winter Gardens and the Tower and of the many dance partners i had  Stewart Best from Hartlepool been my first ever. Rose Peacock and many others i cannot remember their name it was so long ago These are the kind of memories that stay forever i am so blessed

Written by Karen Surtees. To send Karen Surtees a private message, click here.

A memory of Blackhall Colliery in Cleveland shared on Sunday, 30th December 2007.

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Comments

RE: RE: Ballroom Dancing Days

Hi. I actually know Bob and Doris. They are still alive. They actually live in the same street as me, in Blackhall. Just thought i'd let you know :)

Comment from Dena Wood on Friday, 31st October 2008.

RE: RE: Ballroom Dancing Days

I too went to dancing classes at Bob & Doris's, as did my elder sister Carole (we were Patterson then). I was born in 1960 and started dancing when I was 4. I gave up when I was about 8 as I had achieved all the medals I could at that age, my sister is 6 years older and did carry on longer than me. I remember being in the formation team, with the little silver tiaras. Elainie and Ken had two sons, Chris and Darren.

Comment from LYNN WEBSTER on Saturday, 12th December 2009.

RE: RE: Ballroom Dancing Days

Hello,
I am a researcher at Reef Television in London and we are making a programme for the BBC about Francis Frith's photographs. We are going on a journey through Britain to discover the places, cities, towns etc thata he photographed and we want to see what has changed, what has stayed the same and talk to people about their memories. One of the places we are hoping to go is Blackpool as it features in many of his photographs. If anyone would like to talk to me about their memories here that would be great. Whether it is from ballroom dancing in the Winter Gardens, watcing performances at The Blackpool Tower or going on family holidays there as a child I'd love to hear from you. It can be anything from the past that would make for an interesting feature on the show.
You can contact me via email at bronagh.mckenna@reeftv.com

Many thanks,
Bronagh McKenna
Researcher
Reef Television

Comment from Bronagh McKenna on Tuesday, 26th July 2011.

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