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| Florence and her brother Ronald ran a Dancing School in Torquay Devon. The Pansy Byrd School of Dancing All types of dance were taught Ballroom, Ballet, Tap and Old Time Their younger sisters were involved as well Two stage shows were put on each year |
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Women's League of Health & Beauty | |
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The family went to tea dances at the Palm Court Hotel | |
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Performance with Bird sisters 1936 | |
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Iris (centre), Joy, Thalia and Pansy (far right) |
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| Pansy Byrd Torquay |
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Peppers Sleaford Corn Exchange | |
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| Christmas Pantomine Ellen Watson (Pansy Byrd) 1950's |
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| Costumes made by Ellen and Janice |
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| Operatic and Dramatic Society Dartford Kent |
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| Dancing Team Competion 1960's John and Ellen Watson far left |
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| Ellen (Pansy Byrd) and John Watson continued with their dancing well into their seventies Ellen and her daughter Janice made all of the dresses and costumes from the 1950's onwards |
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| We used to go to dances at the local hotels at Christmas, The Palace the Grand and the Imperial. I went to evening classes to learn ballroom dancing. I remember rich? guests taking our chairs with a throw away remark about us being only local shop keepers! Spen wrote a poem about them going dancing and leaving him at home.....(Last Traces, First Signs) Susie and I with Bobbie her friend went to learn Scottish Dancing at the Victoria Hotel so we could partner the Cadets at their Naval College Dances, got no photos of those dances in the 1950's the cadets in their uniforms used to row us across the river Dart in the moonlight where our parents used to meet us on theb rtorquay side ...very romantic.We all learnt to dance with Miss Gooding at castle Circus.Thalia
My parents told us that when they were courting they also went to the Imperial, The Grand and the other large Hotels in Torquay to Tea Dances etc often with Lilian, Maurice and other members of the the family. Mother taught dad to ballroom dance at her dancing school. I started dancing classes at a very early age, ballet, tap and then ballroom dancing in my teens. There always seemed to be shows to rehearse for, the annual pantomime etc What with the violin, the orchestra and various choirs my younger days were filled with music and dance. Janice |
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Imperial Hotel | |
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LAST TRACES, FIRST SIGNS 2003
It reminds me of them dolled up to the nines, Spruced-clean in their soft dancing shoes. Off to a world thet could never be mine, Whilst I was safe-tucked up in bed.
A peck on the cheek and a pat on the head, Then off with a rustle and swirl. While wafts of perfume would linger and fade, A darkness entered my world.
Last traces included a scrunching of wheels, And this light-line I'm seeing here now, Moving its arc on my ceiling tonight, Dispiriting since it's form left over right
Now close to this street more transitions occur, A trace of anxiety, a trace of relief. It reminds me of them dolled up to the nines, Spruced-clean in their soft dancing shoes.
Maurice Bird
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| Thora and Lilian Bird |
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| Dorothy |
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| Mazurian Dancer |
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| Janice's Polish Dance 1954 Must be in the family! |
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| Janice What a tutu ! |
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| Monica
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| Roberto and Monica |
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| Niccolo Clown |
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| Margaud |
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| Andy Carrera Xmas Panto (far right) |
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| Childs beach theatre |
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| Warren and Newton |
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| Mimmo at Janice's 60th (Ulten) |
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