Profile: Barbara Richardson

Barbara Richardson (née Baudhuin) 1965-1968

Being a dance teacher always causes interest with one’s friends and acquaintances. I started dancing at the age of 3, on the advice of my doctor, because my legs were very thin. I went to the Nancy Robinson School of Dancing in Streatham where, until the age of 18, I did Ballet, National and Natural Movement. I took various examinations and entered festivals when I added Song and Dance which I loved. Jacky Ferguson joined the school and taught me during my teenage years, before she joined the staff of London College. I was also keen on all sports and was going to be a PE teacher until, after passing a Natural Movement examination with Honours, I was asked to help out at the ISTD Natural Movement congress, retaking my exam for the education of teachers. I only got Highly Commended that time, but while there, I learned about London College and decided it was definitely for me. I spent the first two years at Hamilton Place, in the most stunning London location, next to The Hilton Hotel and opposite Hyde Park, where we would go during our lunch breaks and sometimes being late back for afternoon classes! The third year was at Clubland in Camberwell. The contrast couldn’t have been greater. Natural Movement and Drama were my passion at College, although I did have success at Modern too. I didn’t realise until later in life, how impressive gaining a Gold Medal from LAMDA was. That and my Deportment Brooch (a test offered by the Imperial Ballet Faculty at the time) gained while I was at ‘Miss Nancy’s’ are very precious possessions. I left college, proudly, with my diploma and a cup for the most improved dancer. I went on to teach at a private girls’ secondary school in Solihull, where I taught creative dance throughout the school and after-school clubs in ballet and ballroom. During that year, 1969, my father died, so I left to come home to my mother. I then took up two contrasting jobs, one in the mornings as a PE teacher in what was then called an ESN school in Old Street, London, and one in the afternoons teaching ballet in a dancing school in Claygate, Surrey. I remember changing my teaching voice to suit! Then the opportunity for ex London College students to go to Dartford College to do a Cert. Ed. came up and I grabbed the chance with both hands. I loved Laban, bound and free flow particularly. I did PE as my 2nd subject although life-saving in a swimming pool was not my forte! With my London College diploma and my Certificate in Education, I was a qualified teacher. Jill Henderson, who had taught me and become a friend at college, was leaving her part time dance teacher’s post at a Fulham secondary modern school and said it would be a perfect job for me, as after one year the school was going to become a comprehensive with a great opportunity to create a dance department. And so it came to pass. I taught at Fulham Cross School as head of dance for seven years, creating a mode 3 CSE exam which included a written paper. I also taught ballet after school, entering the dancers for ISTD exams and putting on epic shows at the school and at Hammersmith Town Hall.

During this time I married Ted and had Clair, our eldest daughter. She came with me to the school a couple of days a week and helped at the child development classes! I also did adult ballet and creative dance at Morley College in London with Jill Henderson as the instructor. Ted joined the creative dance class too and we danced for the Queen and Margaret Thatcher when they opened new studios. Our shows were legendary, but unfortunately Ted gave up the classes when he saw himself on video! Ted then got a job in Dorchester, Dorset, and we spent 6 happy years there. I regretted losing my dancing at Morley College so was thrilled when there was an article in the local Dorset paper wanting ladies to join a new Morris dancing team. Most members of the group were married to Morris men and wanted to do it themselves instead of just tagging along with them. (I did The Shepherd’s Hay at college and on one occasion forgot my hankies, however I don’t think anyone noticed that I used some white socks instead)! We were Royal Manor Morris, named after the isle of Portland, where we were based. We performed the Cotswold Morris style and were awesome. We danced at pubs, fairs, festivals, The Verne prison and The Lord Mayor’s Show in London. I only played the drum for that as I was 7 months pregnant with Alex, our younger daughter. We also featured in a TV programme, Portland in June. All four of us returned to London in 1986, where we settled in Croydon. With the girls at school I was a little bored so started supply teaching. There was an annual schools’ dance festival held at Fairfield Halls and they were short of dances so I began a dance club at the school and so started 25 years of the concerts. Over those years, I taught dance clubs in six Croydon schools and became Chair of The Croydon Schools’ Dance Association, which not only produced the dance festivals but ran workshops, days of dance and holiday courses. I also worked for the Croydon Sports Partnership, introducing dance to schools throughout the borough. This was an initiative introduced before the London Olympics to increase physical activity in schools. I retired from teaching in March 2019. My daughters had contrasting hobbies as they grew up, Clair rode horses and Alex was involved in Am. Dram. I too was involved in Am. Dram. appearing in a few plays, but mostly choreographing pantos and junior musicals. Both girls followed their hobbies to get BTECs in Horse Management at Merrist Wood College and Musical Theatre at The Brit School respectively. Clair is now a brilliant secretary to two doctors and Alex is a brilliant PA at a trichology clinic. They are both independent, intelligent and kind girls, who Ted and I are very proud of.

As well as my love of dancing I have also loved tennis and played at my local club from the age of 13, both socially and in the 1st team. I went to the Wimbledon tennis tournament every year. In the Wimbledon programme there was a request for people to train as tennis line umpires. This stayed in my mind as a possibility until the next year’s tournament when I was there again. Being only 5ft 1inch and trying to see over people’s heads at the outside courts, one of a team of line umpires waiting to go on court said the best way to see the games was to be a line umpire. That convinced me to phone the LTA and get on a course. I was thrilled when I passed the intensive one day course. One of the instructors, who is now a stand-up comic, said a tennis match was like a play, with everyone playing their part. This pleased the thespian in me! After gaining experience as a line umpire, I was invited to do my accreditation course as a chair umpire. This was a weekend course with both a practical and written exam, the last of which I had done 30 years before! Again I passed and after four years of line judging and umpiring at small tennis events, I eventually arrived on the biggest tennis stage of all, The Wimbledon Championships in 2006. I have made so many friends from all over the world at this wonderful tournament. At professional tournaments we line umpires are given marks every time we are on court by the chair umpire and can be promoted and demoted accordingly. In 2012 I was promoted and selected for The Paralympic Games in London. It was a humbling experience. We officials stayed in the Olympic village, sharing facilities with athletes from all the Paralympic sports as well as the wheelchair tennis players. In 2018 my marks were again good enough to be selected for the ladies singles final between Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams. Also on centre court that day was Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, playing the final set of their epic semi-final. Just like dancing, timing is the thing. We entered the court at 1.57 exactly and walked along a chosen mowed line of grass to our places. Such a memorable moment. Being a tennis line umpire can cause even more interest with friends and acquaintances than being a dance teacher!