MORE than 300 tap dancers of all ages raised thousands of pounds in memory of one of Huddersfield’s most talented men.
Fourteen dance groups from all over the region – including several from Huddersfield – took steps to raise cash for charity at the 17th annual Roy Castle Tapathon.
The event at Halifax’s North Bridge Leisure Centre yesterday raised money for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in memory of the legendary Scholes-born dancer and entertainer.
Running the event was Janet Austin from Janet Austin Tappers in Brighouse and Huddersfield.
She said: “It was absolutely fantastic. I was really worried the snow would put people off but there were only a few that didn’t come.
“It went really well and there was a real feelgood factor.
“It was very busy and in hard times to make any money for charity is good.”
Roy Castle – a dancer, singer, musician and comedian – died from lung cancer in 1994 aged 62, despite being a non-smoker.
The Tapathon was founded in 1997 by Roy’s friends, including Derek and Vera Hamer, of Brighouse, who had danced alongside him in the 1940s and 1950s.
Over the last 16 years the Tapathon has raised more than £200,000 for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
