Dancing
I have already noted that I learned to dance in my mother's slippers at dancing class. I believe there were twenty lessons for 12/- in the Hodgett's Club Hall. That was the beginning of another host of pleasures. I don't think I ever missed a dance in St Bees until the time I left the village at 18 years old. The dances then were from 8pm to 2am, or 8pm to 4am on a long night's Ball, and I was usually one of the first on the floor and rarely sat out a dance.
Our dance band most often consisted of a violin and a piano - Mr Jack Wilson fiddle, Mr Isaac Wilson piano. Latterly drums were introduced but the music was not any better to dance to.
I still remember the various girls I partnered in the different dances. One Mrs Elsie Irving used to come for me in the waltz, which of course was then was what is now known as an old-fashioned waltz. She was much older than me and rather stout, but a very good waltzer. Elsie's maiden name was Leach and her married name was Irving. John her husband didn't seem to go dancing after they were married.
Her husband and she had won many waltzing competitions, which were held at all the sports meetings, and each little village had its sports meeting. Properly organised. There would be, at each, two weights of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, an old dog and a puppy dog hound trial, a boys 100yards handicap, a men’s fell race and a waltzing competition. At the larger meetings of course there would be a full programme of men’s racing taking in all the distances.