Microsoft word - 276page05.doc

Chatsworth Sponsored Walk
The Golden Age of the British
Dance Bands
The recent programme on BBC TV “Strictly Come Dancing” created a massive interest. All over the country, couples are now practising the gentle art and tripping the light fantastic in their dancing pumps, maybe this will be a return to music with a melody. The pop scene is ready for a change, when How can you get involved? Well, ideally we would like you one looks back to the good old days of the 1930s dance music to consider participating directly by taking part on the Walk was the vogue in fashion. Our fair city of Sheffield produced on 10 October round the beautiful Chatsworth grounds in far more entertainment and value for money than what is Derbyshire. We can supply sponsorship forms to raise funds prior to the walk and the entry procedure is very simple. Dance halls and classy ballrooms catered for all ages. From Otherwise, you might prefer to use some other means to raise the 1930s to the 50s how many readers can remember The funds for Sight Savers, or simply send a donation to us. Cutlers Hall on Saturday nights. The Grand Hotel also with As you may already know, Sight Savers is the UK’s leading the Whinston Lee combo. Saturday and Thursday night The charity tackling the problem of blindness in the developing Bernard Taylor Band played great music at The City Hall and world. Every 5 seconds someone in the world goes blind and the floor was always packed. I recall this group also played every minute a CHILD goes blind. Children in the for dancing at The Old Playhouse Theatre on Trippet Lane developing world are 10 times more likely to suffer with sight during the war years. Cliffe Lobb played a great trumpet and threatening conditions and 80% of all blindness is avoidable Jackie Bateson the drums for the princely sum of 2 shillings. or treatable very simply or cheaply. Just 12p per year will One could dance to the music of G Lee at The Abbeydale protect someone at risk from River Blindness and a 50p Ballroom. Alas this fine building has gone to rack and ruin; it course of Tetracycline ointment can treat Trachoma, which had the finest cinema also in the suburbs of Sheffield in those affects tens of millions of people worldwide and is 100% days. Other venues for dancing included The Glossop Road avoidable! This year, the proceeds from the Chatsworth Baths, The Greystones Cinema Ballroom, Frank Days at Walk will go towards the River Blindness project in Pitsmoor, The Page Hall, Nether Edge Hall, The Brincliffe Cameroon. A worthy cause I am sure you will agree, and the Oaks, The Norton Hotel, The Wagon and Horses at fact that Sight Savers can do so much with small amounts Millhouses, even a regular dance spot at The Heatherfield Club at Totley. During the Second World War Days there Finally, please note that the organisers of the event are the was certainly plenty of nightlife in Sheffield in those days. Hallam Rotary Club in Sheffield. We are delighted that they Most of the workingmen’s clubs also held regular dance spots are prepared to help us in this way and we have enjoyed great known as the free and easy style. I remember the special support form them over many years now. If you do decide to outings when the top dance band in the land played at The take up our invitation then please complete the form below City Hall for the price of 5 shillings you could dance to the music of Ted Heath, Joe Loss and Vic Lewis and The Jack ……………………………………………………………… Parnell Orchestras. Nottingham was a grand city for dancing. The venues of the Yes, I would like to register for this event:- palaise latin american music of Edmundo Ros. The Victoria Ballroom where I met The Ted Heath Band with Paul …………………………………………………………… Other bands I have danced to include Sid Phillips arranger for …………………………………………………………… the Bert Ambrose Orchestra. This outfit was rated as the best …………………………………………………………… of all dance bands in the 1930s. Top players such as George …………………………………………………………… Chisholm, Tommy McQuater and Ted Heath, vocalists …………………………………………………………… included Vera Lynn, Anne Shelton, Al Bowlly and Sam …………………………………………………………… Brown. I recall a break-off unit led by Jimmy Miller the famous “Squadronairs” dancing at Loughborough Town Hall ……. No of Adults @ £2 per walker = £ back in 1943, pure musical class. My favourite sound of all was The Billy Ternent Orchestra. He somehow brought ……. No of Children @ £1 per walker = £ sanity back to music, that era had melody and romance. Billy Ternent had originally been the arranger for the show band of Jack Hynton. Other great dance of that period included Eric Winstone, Stanley Black, Lew Stone, Oscar Rabin, Carrol Gibbons, Gerald O, Billy Cotton, Henry Hall, Harry Roy, NB – Closing date 4 October 2004
Roy Fox, Maurice Winnick and Charlie Kunz, Jack Payne etc. They had to be good for the competition was so fierce. Please make all cheques payable to “Rotary Club of The gold age of the dance bands was something to treasure. Hallam” and send the above and your cheque to:- The late Syd Lawrence brought much pleasure to dancers and lovers of the big swing bands with his revival of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey style in the 1970s and deserves a special tribute. Maybe the big bands will never return to the halcyon and calming days of the swing era. For economics will always rule. But who knows that magical programme on BBC TV may get us all back on the dance floor.

Source: http://www.silverserviceconsultancy.co.uk/totley_history_group/2004/0409/Full%20Pages/276Page05.pdf