Wigan Album

My, what lovely long legs Alwyn had....a photo to cherish Peter.

A lovely photo. Alwyn looks a bit older than 4 though she does look tall.
I recall going for ballet lessons in the early fifties. I still remember the 1st to 5th positions in ballet. It didn’t last long though I only had pumps and nearly all the others had little red leather ballet pumps. I think my mam was making sure I would stick at it!

A lovely photo! I once had a letter published in "Bunty" magazine when I was around 8 years old and there was a choice of prizes. I asked for ballet shoes, imagining they were those with the hardened toes which ballerinas wore to stand on their toes, ("en pointe" I believe it's called). Unfortunate;y they were just flat soft ballet pumps! However, when I was about 13 a girl at school gave me some "en pointe" shoes and I thought I was the bee's knees! I could never dance and never took lessons but I loved them!

Most ballerinas have awful feet. I thought my feet were bad enough but I have seen some shocking photos of dancer’s feet because of wearing those blocks in the ballet pumps.
That’s why little ones only have the soft leather ones whilst the feet are still growing I suppose.

Thanks for your lovely comments, you have made her day. She never went on point but did stage dancing on shows. Later ballroom and Latin American then a professional dance teacher.

I take it Alwyn watches Strictly then Peter. I liked watching it but got fed up of all the screaming and the discussions with the two presenters and 5 judges. If. Could just watch the dancing without all the ouha it would be great.

I have never watched Strictly, Veronica, but I used to like the old "Come Dancing "programme in the sixties, (in black and white!), moving on into the seventies, (in colour), with all the different categories, (Waltz, Latin American etc), and I always loved the formation dancing at the end......"The Penge Formation Dance Team" were regulars! I have the film "A Kind Of Loving" where there is a formation team at the works' dance and it always takes me back. I bet Alwyn remembers Come Dancing too.

Veronica, I think Strictly gives the wrong impression to beginners because the celebrities have a one to one with a professional for days or weeks to attain the initial standard for the show. They are pulled round and if two celebrities tried to dance a waltz together they wouldn't be able to start. No basics. Still enjoy the show. Alwyn.

The days when the dancers wore meringue net dresses Irene. Was it Judith Chalmers who was the presenter?. One thing there was no screaming. The men had numbers on their backs. It used to make me laugh when the dance was the military two step. The men’s back’s were as stiff as ramrods.

I remember Judith Chalmers and also Rosemarie Ford in the 1970s, Veronica, but I think it was a man who introduced it when I was a child.....Peter Somebody?? It was just so gentle and innocent. Lovely memories, Alwyn and Veronica!

More important do you both still dance ? If you do it’s really good exercise. I remember doing some sequence dancing about 25 years ago none since. It was good fun.

Irene, it was Peter West. He was a commentator on Test Match cricket.

Correct Ron! I can see him clearly in memory but just couldn't think of his name. Thankyou. xx

Tap dancing was my first love of any dancing,my School friend Magdalen Mitchinson from Foy St had a pair of red tap shoes and lent them to me..I learned how to tap dance to " Powder your face with sunshine" on our front..I never did get my own tap shoes,but to this day to hear tap dancing gives me the biggest thrill.

I had a friend who did go to Ballet lessons until she was 15 Maureen. I-think the teacher was a Miss Peet. She used to charge me and another friend threepence to show us various steps. We would dance under the gas lamp outside the shop where she lived. Every time I hear the Christmas Alphabet I think of those frosty nights in the dim spotlight of the
gas lamp.. ;o)) innocent times.

Those were days when I went to tap classes at The Moss School of Dancing....it was upstairs in a building opposite the old bus station. We used to dance to...''Roll a Silver Dollar down upon the ground & it will roll..oll becauses its round..ound''
Don't write songs like that anymore !!

Weren't they lovely innocent memories though.

What lovely memories, Maureen, Veronica and Helen! I really enjoyed reading those. Veronica, you took me straight back to my Ince childhood with your mention of frosty nights and gas-lamps....how atmospheric! I never danced in front of the corner shop but loved looking at the sweets in the lit-up window ....how exciting it seemed, playing out as the nights drew in.

Yes, a lovely charming picture. It reminds me of those Flower Fairies you used to see in books and on cards. So pretty though she does not need wings.
So pleased Peter that the numerous comments 71 years later have made her happy. She deserves it.

Goodness me, how time flies by. It’s 77 years later!

I did 'en pointe' in my football boots when they were made with steel toe caps . I didn't look as elegant as Alwyn though .

I don’t know you DD but I can just imagine you in baggy shorts and holding your ball over your head on tip toe.