Forget–Me-Not Ball 2008
By Iris Findlay

The 2008 Forget–Me-Not Ball held at The Centre, Slough, was a huge success, and the beautifully decorated hall was filled to capacity with social and competitive dancers. The Forget-Me-Not Club committee is familiar to social and competitive dancers alike for the good work they do. Last year they sent over 100 gifts, cards and cheques to dancers in hospital or ill at home to wish them well again.

At The Centre, after some general dancing, the social competitions took place starting with the first round of the Mayfair Quickstep, followed by waltz, cha cha cha and quickstep. Next was the open waltz; this competition was for competitors of any age group and was won by David and Maggie Durrant, who were presented with their prize by Colin Mansbridge. The Dance Promoters’ Association competitions – the Senior Pre-Championship Ballroom and the Under 35 Pre-Championship Latin competitions – then followed. All the couples competing had made the finals during the year and earned the required number of points to be entered into the grand finals. The dancers of the modern section took to the floor and danced their five dances followed by the Latin section, before more general dancing. Then, to give everyone a chance to get their breath back, we sat down and watched a cabaret from one of the best Amateur couples in the country: Ben Taylor and Hannah Louise Annetts. They started with a lovely Viennese waltz followed by quickstep and a slow waltz. Ben spoke a few words while Hannah was changing before they returned to the floor to end their show with tango and foxtrot. The audience showed their appreciation of this excellent demonstration before Christine Jewiss presented Hannah with a lovely basket of flowers and a gift for Ben and thanked them both.

The finals of the competitions took place next, and Derrick Squires presented prizes to the winners and finalists of the D.P.A. pre-champ events. Jim and Betty Hillyer won the Modern event and Philip Skinner and Katie Davies the Latin event. Brian and Jane Jeal won both the Social Waltz and Cha Cha Cha, with prizes presented by Pam Peters. Douglas Pearce and Molly Murphy won the Social Quickstep, with their prize presented by Blanche Inglis; while Julie Cairncross presented the Mayfair Quickstep prize to Douglas Pearce and Karen Croucher. Compére for the evening, Georgina Cairncross, made sure everyone enjoyed themselves for the duration of this annual event, which will be back again in 2009.

Photographs by Morrison Findlay