Phyllis Manning ran Colchester group for nearly 40 years

TODAY’S nostalgia spread shines the spotlight on a lady who created “so many memories for so many people” in Colchester.

Phyllis Orrin (nee Manning) ran a dance school in the town for nearly 40 years, putting on countless shows and raising funds for worthy causes.

Sadly, Phyllis died in July 2002, aged 83.

However, son Peter made contact after spotting a picture of his mum in one of our recent archive photo collections celebrating the good folk of Colchester.

Performers - a Phyllis Manning Dance School show

He says he was brought up attending and helping out at the various charity shows she organised.

She also wrote and produced her own pantomime and review scripts.

“My mother had a keen interest in dancing from a young age and it was 1935, after leaving school, that she started performing and helping run a group known as Follies Cabaret,” said Mr Orrin, 72.

“During the war, they ran local shows and, when they were able, entertained troops.

Accordion - Phyllis Manning Dance School in the 1930s.

Accordion - the Phyllis Manning Dance School

“Many were wounded soldiers, including Canadians in the Roman Way camp, as well as cheering up the sick during visits to Colchester Hospital.

“It was after the war in 1945, when my father returned from a six-year spell serving in Egypt, that, using her maiden name, she formed the Phyllis Manning Dance School.

“My brother and I were born a few years later but she carried on with the dance school until the early 1980s, when my father was taken ill, keeping the same name throughout this 40-year period.”

Mrs Orrin’s dance classes ran on a weekly basis at St Pauls Hall and the Belle Vue Club, both in Colne Bank Avenue, Colchester.

fame - Phyllis Manning Dancers in the 1950s.

Fame - the Phyllis Manning dancers in the 1950s

“Many of your readers will have attended her dance school over this long period of time,” added Mr Orrin, who lives in Ipswich Road, Colchester.

“From the early days, she ran special shows and pantomimes at the Co-op Hall (theatre), in Eld Lane, and at various other venues, including care homes and at the Corn Exchange.

“She had many certificates for the amounts of money raised for charity, helping so many good causes like Sunshine Homes for the Blind.

“From an early age, my brother (who sadly died 11 years ago) and I were encouraged along to help but most of the time would rather have been kicking a football!

Ballet - some of Phyllis Manning dancers

“My mother sadly died in 2002.

“However, she left so many memories for so many people and was described as a born leader.”

Carnival - Phyllis Manning dancers

Looking the part - Phyllis Manning dancers

I understand taken in the early days, likely during the war when my mother was entertaining the troups. My mother is in the middle at the front

Early days - Peter Orrin says this picture was likely to have been taken during the war, when his mother (front, middle) was entertaining the troops