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Post by mikepad on Sept 24, 2012 22:44:41 GMT 1
This will jog some memories who can recall the Royston Ballroom home of Frank and Peggy Spencer. I met my wife there, great days. The lads got tanked up in the club below because they never served booz in the Royston only soft drinks, as I recall anyway.
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Post by paduard on Jul 11, 2013 21:12:43 GMT 1
I remember going to the Royston Ballroom [period 1951-52]; also going to dancing lessons nearby [off Avenue Rd, possibly in Percy Rd]. Interesting because one graduated so to speak from the lessons to the Royston itself. Lessons run by a couple, man had 1 arm only presumably lost it in the war, wonder if anyone here remembers this? and they gave medals etc. i.e bronze, silver and so on.
Also vaguely recall getting a bus from Anerley to the Eden Park Hotel ballroom; went with a friend named Eric (lived on Oakgrove/or Chesam Rd. if I recall). Great days!
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Post by paduard on Apr 27, 2014 21:32:09 GMT 1
Quite by accident recently I came into contact with someone who remembered the Royston dancing lessons referred to above. She reminded me that it was indeed a separate location to the ballroom in the high street. Also the layout was distinctive i.e. you came into that large house, paid your fee, and entered into what was in effect a very long oblong room with chairs placed along each of the two long sides; and music ballroom dance record player at the far end. Girls were seated on one side and the boys opposite. The instructors taught the steps - after which they mixed the youngsters at random into couples and played the relevant ballroom dance theme - followed by more step-instruction; and so on. Hope this might jog some more memories.
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Post by chrisdoran on Jun 5, 2014 18:09:39 GMT 1
The one-armed dance teacher was Mr Brook K Bayley, principal of the Avenue School of Ballroom Dancing at 11 Avenue Road. The Beckenham Journal pf 22-Aug-1940, p1c, reported that whilst away from home during WW2 he was struck by a bomb fragment and his arm had to be amputated.
The original houses along that part of Avenue Road were demolished around 1990. I am told that Snowdown Close was built on the site of No 11.
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Post by paduard on Jun 11, 2014 21:10:06 GMT 1
The one-armed dance teacher was Mr Brook K Bayley, principal of the Avenue School of Ballroom Dancing at 11 Avenue Road. The Beckenham Journal pf 22-Aug-1940, p1c, reported that whilst away from home during WW2 he was struck by a bomb fragment and his arm had to be amputated. The original houses along that part of Avenue Road were demolished around 1990. I am told that Snowdown Close was built on the site of No 11. Thank you very much for that information - it all rings a bell now. His dress was always immaculat - black and formal. The lady (don't know if it was his wife) usually taught the more tricky steps and generally did so with the men. She was very efficient. As for the Royston itself I wonly visited it on two or three occasions; remember it as a 'bit rough' and moved on to other places including Orchid Ballroom in Purley etc. Best wishes Paduard |
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Post by brokbay on Jul 16, 2014 13:46:20 GMT 1
It could be that I am able to add a little information to the posts above. My qualification is that I am the son of the afore-mentioned Brooke Bayley who was the principal of the Avenue School of Dancing, together with my mother, Irene (known as Renee) Bayley, Nee Adams. It was at 11 Avenue Road, a few hundred yards up the hill from the Royston Ballroom. It catered for any aspiring Ballroom dancers, beginners, intermediates, and advanced, progressively moving up the medal categories from Bronze, to Silver, and ultimately Gold! The medal examinations were always conducted at the much larger Royston Ballroom, with which there was an excellent working relationship. The principals there, Frank and Peggy Spencer were friends of the family. A number of the Avenue School pupils later transferred their allegiance to the Royston Ballroom once they were sufficiently able to meet the challenge of participating in one of the Formation Teams for which the Royston was renowned.
In addition to the Avenue School ballroom classes, Miss Pat Parris ran children's dance classes after school hours during the week, and on Saturday mornings. These encompassed Tap, Ballet, and Stage Craft, bringing the participants to a sufficiently high level of performance to be able to put on annual sell-out performances at the Anerley Town Hall.
Latterly, the Avenue School closed, and my father became a part-time instructor at the Royston Ballroom for both classes and private lessons. His forte was strictly Ballroom, Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot and Tango. He was not attracted to the "new-fangled" Latin American dances. Too much emphasis on arm movements perhaps? Intriguing to note that the gentlemen and ladies were seated on opposite sides of the studio at dance classes. My parents felt that they probably had a far greater success rate in introducing couples to their future life partners than Cilla Black ever had on Blind Date!
I will be pleased to try and answer any other questions on this topic.
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Post by paduard on Jul 25, 2014 20:02:10 GMT 1
It could be that I am able to add a little information to the posts above. My qualification is that I am the son of the afore-mentioned Brooke Bayley who was the principal of the Avenue School of Dancing, together with my mother, Irene (known as Renee) Bayley, Nee Adams. It was at 11 Avenue Road, a few hundred yards up the hill from the Royston Ballroom. It catered for any aspiring Ballroom dancers, beginners, intermediates, and advanced, progressively moving up the medal categories from Bronze, to Silver, and ultimately Gold! The medal examinations were always conducted at the much larger Royston Ballroom, with which there was an excellent working relationship. The principals there, Frank and Peggy Spencer were friends of the family. A number of the Avenue School pupils later transferred their allegiance to the Royston Ballroom once they were sufficiently able to meet the challenge of participating in one of the Formation Teams for which the Royston was renowned. In addition to the Avenue School ballroom classes, Miss Pat Parris ran children's dance classes after school hours during the week, and on Saturday mornings. These encompassed Tap, Ballet, and Stage Craft, bringing the participants to a sufficiently high level of performance to be able to put on annual sell-out performances at the Anerley Town Hall. Latterly, the Avenue School closed, and my father became a part-time instructor at the Royston Ballroom for both classes and private lessons. His forte was strictly Ballroom, Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot and Tango. He was not attracted to the "new-fangled" Latin American dances. Too much emphasis on arm movements perhaps? Intriguing to note that the gentlemen and ladies were seated on opposite sides of the studio at dance classes. My parents felt that they probably had a far greater success rate in introducing couples to their future life partners than Cilla Black ever had on Blind Date! I will be pleased to try and answer any other questions on this topic. Thank you so much brokbay for all of that information. My brother Michael [RIP] was one of those who progressed to medal status (can't remember whether it was broze or higher). There may be some other questions I may think of asking of you, but in the meantime your parents were both wonderful people; especially so your Father. |
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Post by allenpierce on Feb 14, 2016 10:38:09 GMT 1
I remember going to the Royston Ballroom [period 1951-52]; also going to dancing lessons nearby [off Avenue Rd, possibly in Percy Rd]. Interesting because one graduated so to speak from the lessons to the Royston itself. Lessons run by a couple, man had 1 arm only presumably lost it in the war, wonder if anyone here remembers this? and they gave medals etc. i.e bronze, silver and so on. Also vaguely recall getting a bus from Anerley to the Eden Park Hotel ballroom; went with a friend named Eric (lived on Oakgrove/or Chesam Rd. if I recall). Great days! Yes remember it well. Peggy and Frank Spencer . Working men's club on ground floor. Had to attend a meeting in this club to obtain my Amalgamated Engineering Union green card to prove I was a tradesman. (Provide apprenticeship documents) . just seen "you tube" Video of walk I made each day to Oakfield road school, exact route I had taken. Prior to this I attended St. John's junior school in Maple Road Penge. Beckenham public baths, Robin Hood pub, Elmers End. Twinlock book binders and printers where I was an apprentice. Remember the whole company all lined up at side of road when Percy Jones funeral cars went by (owner/ founder of Twinlocks) Robert Hutton became new CEO. Orchard and Lacano ballrooms, Purley Way open air swimming! Marcos and Clarks coaches based in Penge and Anerley. Could go on, now 72 and remember it like yesterday. Walking to Norward, now I don't think many will know what this is!! Going through the "bunny Hole" ! I went back to 27 Worbeck Road Anerley (where I lived until the age of 22.(born in Stone Park hospital) new owners invited me in to look round and seeing the concrete path my father and put down plus a metal shackle still in the tree that I spent most of my time up when 8/12 years of age. All this after 65 years and still there. |
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Post by mikepad on Aug 13, 2016 22:04:12 GMT 1
Just picked this up after a couple of years. Sad news is that Peggy Spencer passed away a few weeks ago. Great days at the Royston. As I have said in my first post met my wife there. Have to say though still got two left feet!! I have a clipping from the Times with a lovely obit to Peggy.
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Post by paduard on Aug 15, 2016 17:30:40 GMT 1
RIP Peggy
paduard
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Post by paduard on May 1, 2018 16:52:32 GMT 1
I had a word with an old friend of mine today, and who went to Avenue School of Dancing, and she reminded me that this venue was generally referred to as “Brooks” - for short that is.
paduard
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Post by paduard on Dec 1, 2018 21:56:14 GMT 1
Musing on 'Brooks' Just thought I would reflect on my first visit with my friend Tony. Both confronted with Mr. Brook Bayley (imaculatly dressed) and we paid the fee to him, went in for the lessons, and after Mrs. Brook Bayley had introduced (so to speak) us all girls to boys - thought at the time that "all our Christmas had come at once". Put this on now as after all Christmas is upon us.
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Post by paduard on Feb 21, 2019 20:30:42 GMT 1
The only thing us chaps were not looking forward to was doing National Service at age 18. Mucked up all the early contacts - especially the girls!!.
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Post by paduard on May 12, 2019 22:09:49 GMT 1
Glad to learn that 7000 figure has been passed. [smile]
paduard
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stcsgirlforever
New Member
how far should I carry your flame in my fist?
Posts: 3
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Post by stcsgirlforever on May 11, 2022 14:00:00 GMT 1
My old stomping ground. One of them, anyway. I attended classes there of an evening in the 1970s, rather mortifyingly escorted by my mum.
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