JOAN Strickland was a dance star in Huddersfield for decades.

The woman who starred in the Nora Bray Concert Party during the wartime years later founded her own dance school.

And over more than 40 years, she taught many hundreds of Huddersfield youngsters to dance.

Mrs Strickland, of Dalton, died last week at the age of 84.

She was born in Huddersfield and despite living in London and Kent for several years, never forgot her roots.

She studied at Beaumont Street School and then joined the concert party which staged shows for the troops based in and around Huddersfield.

It was at one of the shows that she met a young telegraphist called Wilf Strickland, serving with the Royal Signals Corps.

He was dragged up on stage to join the dancers and fell in love with the young Joan.

The couple married at Dalton St Paul's Church in 1942.

Mrs Strickland continued her dance career in London, where her husband was an accountant, and worked as a member of the Denville Repertory Company.

But she was homesick so the couple returned north to Huddersfield and set up the Joan, Morris and Pamela Strickland dance school, based at Moldgreen United Reformed Church, which her daughter still runs.

She was also a staunch supporter of Huddersfield Light Opera Company, working hard behind the scenes and as a fundraiser, as well as attending every show.

Mrs Strickland was also a member of the Moldgreen church.

A funeral service was held at Moldgreen United Reformed Church on Friday, followed by cremation at Huddersfield.

She leaves a widower, a daughter, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.