Strictly Come Dancing fan, 100, returns to Tower Ballroom 80 years after first waltz
When Joyce Watts first began dancing at Blackpool's Winter Gardens in the 1940s little did she know that the venue would end up being strongly linked with what would become her favourite TV show 80 years later.
Joyce was just 18 at the time and her love of dancing led her to meet her future husband Ron. The couple teamed up with six other pairs and ended up being crowned British Formation Dancing champions one year and competed internationally in Denmark.
"Dancing meant everything to me, it was a real sense of achievement," Joyce, now a resident of Penwortham Grange and Lodge Care Home, recalled.
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"I won my first competition around the age of 18. They had something called an International Award back then. If you earned all your gold medals over three years, you won a trophy. I was incredibly proud of that."
Joyce has recently celebrated her 100th birthday and was treated to a return to the iconic Tower Ballroom which plays a key role in Strictly Come Dancing. Joyce and her best friend Joan enjoyed VIP seats at the front of the dance floor, where they delighted in the music from the Wurlitzer and enjoyed an afternoon tea. Jayne and Joan even danced themselves, reminiscing about Joyce’s days as a successful ballroom dancer.
Jayne Farrow, Activities Coordinator at Penwortham Grange and Lodge, said: "Joyce was beaming all afternoon and admired how beautiful the ballroom was. Moments like these are so precious because they help reignite our passions, evoke cherished memories, and add profound meaning to our lives.
"Joyce is incredibly independent, using a walking aid only occasionally, and she delights in chatting with others and lending a helping hand whenever she can. We wish her a very happy 100th birthday and are already looking forward to celebrating her 101st!"