DANCE teacher Nora Bray may have taught her last steps decades ago.
But the legacy of Nora – the woman who taught Roy Castle his first moves – still lives on, as Examiner readers have been telling us.
Interest in one of Huddersfield’s greatest dance tutors was sparked earlier this month when former pupil Clare Sunnocks (nee Lightfoot) and her husband Alan, launched an appeal for memories of Nora.
Nora, who trained Roy Castle between the ages of eight and 12, also taught thousands of aspiring dancers from the 1920s to just before her death in 1990.
Her dance school staged more than 200 shows for the troops during World War Two.
And Nora and dance partner, Frank Noble, won numerous dance competitions including the ITV Let’s Dance contest in 1961.
Ms Bray, of Trinity Street, set up the Follies to entertain armed forces stationed in the north of England during WWII.
Rhona Taylor (nee Bingley) 82, from Lindley, joined Nora Bray’s school aged eight.
Honley-born Rhona entertained British and American troops all over the North performing ‘Follies on Parade’ alongside Miss Lightfoot.
Mrs Taylor performed with Ms Bray’s school until the 1950s when she left the area.
Rhona, a retired mill worker, said: “It was a very busy, exciting time. We were doing two or three shows a week.
“Nora Bray was a real disciplinarian. There were 30 or 40 girls so she had to be.
“It was hard work but it was fun. We were all good friends.”
Madeline Mitchell (nee Barrowclough) 87, was another of the original Follies.
Mrs Mitchell, originally of Holmfirth, joined the school aged 12 and performed in more than 100 shows for the troops alongside Clare.
Madeline, now of Upper Cumberworth, received a letter of thanks from the Ministry of Defence for entertaining the armed forces.
She too remembers Nora’s strictness.
Mrs Mitchell said: “She wouldn’t stand for nonsense. We were straight off the bus and straight back on after the show.
“We went up to North Yorkshire and all over the place. I really enjoyed it and we were very much appreciated.”
Lesley Baxter, from Linthwaite, remembers training at Ms Bray’s school at Station Street, every Saturday morning during the 1950s.
Mrs Baxter, originally from Crosland Moor, remembers performing ‘Powder Your Face with Sunshine’ in a pink dress at the Theatre Royal aged 10.
Lesley, who is now chairwoman of the Friends of Lawrence Batley Theatre, doesn’t have such fond memories of Ms Bray’s school.
She said: “I was a very average pupil. I didn’t dislike it but I found it hard as it didn’t come easily to me.”
But Cherylyn Lodge (nee Walmsley) was one of Nora ‘favourites’ and taught at her school until her death.
Mrs Lodge, 56, from Shelley, said: “Nora had a strictness to her. I have to say though, I was her little favourite.
“She looked after me and when my parents couldn’t afford to pay for private lessons, she’d still give me them for free.”
