At the age of 6, way back in 1954, my Mum took me to ballet classes in the hope that I would overcome my incredible shyness. I joined the Shirley Sly School of Dancing in my home town in Kent. I was under the impression that I started ballet lessons because my friend went to them - I had no idea it was because I was so shy! I seemed to take to ballet quite well and found that I had a natural aptitude for it. Shirley put on little shows locally and I really enjoyed them. All the mums spent hours making the costumes and sewing on flowers etc.

I joined the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) in London and went through various RAD exams from Primary up to Grade V (the latter ones taken while I was at White Lodge, see next page.) At the age of 10, I went in for a scholarship for a place in The Royal Ballet School, White Lodge, in Richmond Park. A thousand young hopefuls entered the audition with Margot Fonteyn as the main Judge. Only one place was available - I won it. The scholarship was awarded by Girl Magazine which was held every year, my year being the last that Girl were to do this. I then had to go and have various test such as bone growth, also an academic exam to be accepted into The Royal Ballet School. I don't think I did too well in this academic exam and only got passed because of my dancing. The annual fees were quite heavy and we couldn't afford this. The girl Scholarship awarded £1,000 ( £200 per year) for me to attend the Royal Ballet School, but this wasn't enough, so yet another audition, this time at Maidstone County, to help supplement the rest of the fees. Having passed that, it still wasn't quite enough, so Mum went back to work and was able to pay the shortfall.