Newsletter Issue : 5
Inside this issue:

We first became involved with Malcolm when he rolled up at our dance venue in Hatfield back in September 1998. He was not the most natural of dancers, but it was quite evident from that first night that he was a very quick learner and had what it took to become a good dancer.

Our first impressions of him were that he was a very approachable person and always seemed to be happy and smiling.

His dancing progressed very quickly, to such an extent that we co-opted him on to our dance crew as a taxi dancer. His dedication and patience was an example to all, and we received numerous comments from beginners, praising and thanking him for the time that he spent with them helping them along.

It was about this time that we discovered his other passion in life. We were out on a crew night in Stevenage and descended on Pizza Hut for an end of evening meal. At one stage Malcolm got up and was chatting to the staff at the counter. We assumed that he was asking where the toilets were, but when he returned he was carrying a large box. He proceeded to open it up and pulled out his very own, beautiful accordion. And for the next hour he then entertained not only us, but the whole of Pizza Hut as well. At later dates this was to be repeated at other crew events that we held. He was a very talented musician and knew so much about music.

As time went on, I personally got to know Malcolm better. I learnt about the trials and tribulations of his life, some of which included his cataract operations, & his successful fight against testicular cancer. And through all of this he still came through smiling and very cheerful. I asked him how he managed this and he made a comment that I've never forgotten. He said "If your feeling low, don't despair. The sun has a sinking feeling every night, but it comes back up every morning".

Malcolm told me how the dancing had totally changed his life, how he had made so many new friends, and, in his own words, how thankful he was for every day of his life following his cancer.

He could be seen at every dance event going, whether it be one of our tea dances, or at Hammersmith town hall on a Saturday. He went to venues like Cheshunt, St Neots and Bedford and even entered the jive championships in London as well. He said that had he been younger he would have liked to progress to being a teacher and I'm sure that he would have made it.

He also had a great sense of humour. I will never forget our last tea dance when he arrived in the same outfit as myself, dressed as Hitler. Or how he took a party up Snowdon to get a photograph of a posed dance move for a newsletter article. He arrived at the top first only to find that his much younger group of followers were to tired out to even pose with him!

And also his recent reply to my "spoof" in our newsletter, where I mentioned that he had won the "double trouble" dance competition with Dave & Bryan as his partners. He replied to me saying that he refused to dance with either of them until Bryan had perfected his spins and Dave stopped trying to lead.

He attended my birthday party in September . He sent me an e-mail on the Monday which just said, "Great Party - that's what Real Life is all about, not the daytime stuff." I think that summed up just how much he enjoyed life.

I spoke to him on the Sunday at Weymouth and he said what a great time he was having, being with all his friends and dancing as well.

And that is how he left us, probably every person's ideal way to finish their life, - very quickly, in no pain, & being amongst good friends doing something you love.

We've all lost a very good friend and I have lost a personal pal. He had a dream that he wanted to play his accordion at a Ceroc event whilst people danced to his music. Unfortunately this never materialised. I'd like to think that, where ever he is, he's now running his own little dance franchise, jam packed to the walls, with everyone dancing to his accordion music.

That was the Malcolm that we knew and loved. He has been tragically taken from us, but I'm sure that he would not want us to sit around mourning but to get out there & dance to his memory. He’s gone forever, but will never, ever be forgotten.

Website by Mark Roger Ely BSc & John Wright
Copyright 1999/2000/2001/2002/2003

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