I've got another little anecdote from later in the same fortnight. In my limited circle all young men served their dancing apprenticeship at Chic Hibbert's Dance hall in Higher Openshaw, a quite innocuous establishment. There were professional teachers Bob Dale and Bobby Davis if you had the money. Usually I didn't have more than my entrance fee to the dances which were held Friday, Saturday and Wednesday. There was a dance club on Sunday which you had to be a member and the fee was rather extortionate we thought because it also included collective tuition. So we practiced our steps with the help of the local girls who somehow were mysteriously adept at Modern Waltz, Quickstep, Slow Foxtrot, and sundry Latin American dances including no less the Cha- Cha. Anyway after that pre-amble back to the Palace Ballroom, Douglas which was the scene of our first night out. We were surveying the talent available and making our selection and my particular pal and I approached two likely looking young ladies for a dance. They agreed and we walked onto the dance floor, the band I remember was the Squadronaires led by Paul Fenoulet which had until recently been the Royal Airforce Dance Orchestra. We took up our positions and were agreeably astonished when the two girls thrust their pelvises hard against our stomachs and leaned their shoulders backwards in true professional style. They obviously had far more resources than we ever had to be so trained. Off we glided our complexions registering our embarrassment at our evident excitement and hoping they wouldn't notice but by their giggles it was a forlorn hope. You see it wasn't all misery. Jim Sharpe Shaw, Oldham, UK ----- Original Message ----- From: mikemail <michael@ae.net.sa> To: Jim Sharpe <jimm.sharpe@virgin.net>; <GEN-FRIENDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 11:28 PM Subject: Re: [GEN-FRIENDS] Drag Queen. Splendid story from the days of innocence. Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Sharpe To: GEN-FRIENDS-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 7:41 AM Subject: [GEN-FRIENDS] Drag Queen. In all my long life I only had one near encounter with a drag artiste. It was in the Isle of Man at Douglas the main resort [for the Americans etc.]. I --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.361 / Virus Database: 199 - Release Date: 07-May-02