Tributes to dance teacher

Strictly’s Len hails the man who taught Peterborough how to dance

Strictly Come Dancing star Len Goodman has paid a moving tribute to a legendary Peterborough dance teacher who passed away aged 88. The Strictly judge said he learned so much about teaching from Dereck Brown that he took those principles with him for the rest of his life.

Len said: “I’ve known Dereck Brown most of my dancing life. I first went to his dance school as a young professional to give a dance demonstrationandwassoimpressedwithhisprofessionalism that I asked if I could visit hisschooltoseehowheranhis classes.

“I stayed with him and his wife Edna for three days and learned so muchabouthowto teach that I put his principals into myteachingfortherestof my dancing life.

“Dereck was one of the kindest and warmest people I have ever met. He was a true gentleman. His studio in Peterboroughwastheenvyofthe dancing world. I expect he’s in the great ballroom in the sky teaching people to dance, as only he could.”

Dereck was renowned across Peterborough for the running of Brown’s Dancentre, in Lincoln Road, Millfield, wherehetaughtcountlessstudents alongside wife Edna.

Thecouplehavebeencredited with starting a number of relationships through their classes, including that of Peterborough City Council leader John Holdich and wife Barbara who have been married 51 years.

Dereck, of Netherton, passed away peacefully at the Edith Cavell Hospital in Bretton Gate on Sunday. He was not in any pain.

Hisson-in-lawMarkWindsor-Hampton, whoismarried to Joanne, Dereck’s only child, said: “HetaughtPeterborough how to dance. As soon as you mentioned dancing and filming he would light up. “Dancing was his life.” Cllr Holdichsaid: “I usedto gothereonaWednesdaynight tolearntodance. I metmywife there - we danced together on several occasions. They used to run trips to Stevenage Locarno. I sat on a bus with her on the way home and asked for a date.”

Derek was originally from Todmorden, Yorkshire and was conscripted to the port city of Aden, Yemen, with the army. His passion for dancing started at the age of seven when he attended the Billingtons Dance Academy in Oldham after being inspired by a Fred Astaire film.

During the ‘disco’ era, classes at Brown’s were so busy it was not uncommon to see queuesaroundthecorner.

Dereck’s funeral will be a private service.

Dereck and Edna Brown