Les Wilde Dancing Lessons
Yes Yes Yes!!! I remember Les Wilde. My mum and dad used to go there every Wednesday evening. and my brother and I were sent along there for the childrens dance classes, I think on a Thursday evening. I remember the hall above the, was it a billiard hall? and the tiny little curtained booth where they put on the records, and the kitchen that smelled of gas where you could buy a watery orange juice and a club biscuit! I spent a lot of time at Les Wilde dance studios. My parents were good friends of both Les and his wife, whose name I forget. A lovely lady. When I was thirteen, I would sometimes accompany my parents on a Wednesday evening - but only because I could sit in his newly made bar and nurse a coca cola, which seemed to me at the age of thirteen the height of sophistication. My brother and I both took up to our first Gold Bar medal exams with Les Wilde. what innocence, what fun we all used to have at those childrens lessons.....anybody else remember that time? If so, anybody remember Gillian and Christopher, Elaine, Rita, Patrick ( I think from Neasdon?)
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RE: RE: Les Wilde Dancing Lessons
I attended Les Wilde Dance Studios from about 1966 until the mid 70's. Les's wife was Kath. Also Edith, Christine and Jenny who taught there. Studio was next door to the Walpole cinema or "fleapit" as it was more commonly known. I used to go twice a week and ended up teaching for a while. How nice it was to get dressed up for a dance class. Circular skirt with lovely net petticoat beneath,satin ballroom shoes and T-bar gold Latin sandals.I had a real teenage crush for Paul Wilde (Les's nephew) but sadly the object of his affections was another! Classes were 4 shillings in the 1960s and private lessons were £1. Oh, such wonderful memories.
Comment from Carol Claxton on Wednesday, 16th November 2011.
RE: RE: Les Wilde Dancing Lessons
How strange, we probably knew each other by sight then! I remember Les and his wife Kath, and also Edith, Christine and Jenny! I attended during the same time span, I think at the children's classes on a thursday, was it? Sometimes, when I was in my very early teens, I would go with my parents, who were avid dancers (Jo and David) on a Wednesday, as a treat. Those fabulous circular skirts, net petticoats and sparkly shoes!!! Great memories.
Comment from Gill Hewlett on Wednesday, 16th November 2011.