Regency Dance Centre to hold reunion at Sidac Social Club

Margaret Holmes, 80, was asked to hold the reunion to reacquaint with some old familiar faces.

The Regency Dance Centre on Prescot Road, was run by married couple Margaret and Keith Holmes for more than 40 years.

Margaret and Keith, who passed away in 2018, ran the Regency until the early 2000s, and it became one of the town’s most popular venues.

Margaret said: “When the man who owned the building died, it was up for sale so Keith and I bought it as we were dance teachers. We made it our own.

"The Regency was an amazing place and what a beautiful ballroom! We had lots of lovely customers and lots of parties too.

"We had famous people into the Dance Centre, including the parents of George Harrison and Keith Chegwin."

Highlights of the Regency calendar were holidays to beautiful country houses, weeks abroad and the icing on the cake was the Blackpool Weekend with dancing at the Tower Ballroom.

Margaret added: "We were there in Prescot Road, for more than 40 years until we were 60, which was when we intended to retire.

"We were immediately offered rooms all over St Helens, we worked hard for a very long time.

"Keith was a director of the IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association) when he was asked to stand in at the helm until a new CEO could be found.

"This was to be for a year, but he ended up staying for 17 years!”

Over the years Margaret and Keith got to meet many famous people, including members of the royal family.

Keith Holmes (middle) in 2008, reciving an accolade for accolade for Outstanding Services to Danceat the Carl-Alan Awards in 2008, with Shirley Anne Field (left) and Lionel Blair (right)

“We had a very interesting life but we were more interested in the social side of dancing,” added Margaret.

“I remember Ken Dodd saying to me once: ‘I don’t know how you do it, between me and the audience is the footlights, you are surrounded by people within touching distance. It’s very hard to keep a group of people happy’”

Margaret shared one snippet of information that Keith was originally contacted by two producers of Strictly Come Dancing, as he was knowledgeable about the dancing but also very witty and engaging.

It was just as he had agreed to do a year with the IDTA in Brighton, but he would recommend someone, and passed on Len Goodman’s phone number, who got the job immediately.  

“Keith was never sorry about that; it was something he didn’t want.”

• The reunion will take place at Sidac Social Club in Sutton Leach on the evening of Friday, November 12 from 7.30pm. There will be food and dancing on the night. Tickets are £17.50 and can be bought by calling Margaret on 01704 569315. Come and join Margaret for the last waltz.