Gertrude Yearsdon

Yearsdon School of Dancing

Gertrude Yearsdon c1938

I am not sure where I got these from but found them on my computer.

They are photos of Gertrude Yearsdon who had a dance school on Canvey. We have other photos from the group on our site.

Gertrude was born in York in 1908. She was living with her parents and sister in Southend in the 1939 register.

When she came to Canvey we do not know. Whether she actually lived on Canvey we have no idea. Her school of Dancing in 1935 was in Hamstel Road in Southend.

She was living in Thundersley when she died in 1964.

Where was her school? Did she live on Canvey?

If anyone can enlighten us please comment below.

 

Comments about this page

  • I remember going to miss yeardens dance classes. Think I may be in some of those photos. There was a miss halliwell used to play piano and a miss anne who was younger used to teach the little ones. I can’t remember where they lived I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the Island but Im sure they lived together. I think miss anne lived Raleigh way. I remember the rainbow tutus.

    By Roz Green (10/03/2020)
  • Saturday mornings were upstairs at the labour club hall. Sometimes little routines were next door at the WI hall. We also used the war memorial hall on occasions. At least once remember going to a church hall in Benfleet. At least one panto was put on at Furtherwick pk school.

    By Roz Green (12/03/2020)
  • I have found some paper cuttings from my late aunts papers that mention Gertrude Yearsdon

    By matthew fearn (22/03/2020)
  • I went to Miss Yearsdon for about 5 years until her sudden death. I started at the labour hall on a Saturday morning. PrivateTap with Miss Halliwell, private Ballet with Miss Yearsdon,then group ballet, group tap and modern. Finally elocution with miss Halliwell. I was in Dick Whittington and then Aladin which we performed in Furtherwick School, in the Pier theatre Southend and the Palace Theatre Westcliff. I played the part of Sweetie.

    By Kathleen Danswan nee Owens (21/06/2020)
  • I started dance classes at the studio in Lancaster gardens in 1962. Miss Yearsdon’s mother lived upstairs. My younger sister Jane was already attending. I was in Alladin on southend pier which I believe was the same year.
    Miss Yearsdon and Miss Halliwell lived in a mobile home which was in the Rayleigh area.
    When the school closed after Miss Yearsdon’s death my mother and Marie Allen started up The Catherine-Marie school of dancing which operated from our home to begin with and then from Canvey Island, Benfleet and Basildon.

    By Valerie Berry (née Webb) (25/03/2023)
  • If you have any photos Valerie we would love to see them.

    By Janet Penn (25/03/2023)
  • Valerie Berry. I have fond memories of attending the Catherine Marie school of dancing in Basildon in the mid sixties and have often wondered what became of those running it, my mum knew them well and I have vague recollections of them being connected to Canvey/Benfleet. The classes I attended were held in Lee Chapel Hall in Basildon. Catherine, or Marie’s mother took the money and ran the music and always had her little dog, Mr Chips, with her – I loved that dog! One of the siblings also gave piano lessons in the back room that I also remember well. A big production was put on at Timberlog School, Pinocchio I think, I remember the excitement back stage having our hair and make up done. It was very professional and the costumes were superb, a green glitter fish, blue fairy tutus etc, I kept them and they gave my own daughters, now grown up hours of pleasure dressing up.

    By Jacqui Thornton (27/03/2023)

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