A bunch of 'inelegant adolescents' are taught to dance and socialise thanks to magnificent Miss Richardson
In the 1950s, there weren’t many ways to meet boys, and as a young teenager I had no hope of conversing with men of my age. Life seemed dull indeed. Then, one Christmas holidays, Miss Ella Richardson from Manchester came into our lives to teach ballroom dancing in the village hall and a whole new world opened up. Ella Richardson was magnificent – in very high heels, a tight black sheath dress and a wonderful hat with a tassel attached, she strutted around the floor, beautifully poised, her back ramrod straight. Her make-up was bright and brash – scarlet lipstick and bold black lines around her eyes. A tour de force, she ordered lumpish youths to ask ‘one of the gels to dance in a gentlemanly way, please … a slight bow as you stand before the gels and extend your hand, so!’ I was tall and usually found myself...
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