Strictly (Horsforth) Ballroom
23rd September 2025
What an honour to be asked to re-open Horsforth Ballroom, at - as town councillor Tracy Stones put it - a celebration “Championing Community Collaboration and Inclusion”.
I was invited by the fine folk from Dementia Friendly Horsforth who, afterwards, asked me to be their next patron. My Mum lived with and died from dementia. After her diagnosis, and particularly since her death, I find myself talking about dementia often - increasing awareness is so important.
This was a truly uplifting occasion. As Tracy says, it was a real team effort: “I proudly worked with our fantastic Dementia Friendly Team led by Chris (Calvert), to co-plan and co-host in collaboration with the wonderful Home Instead Team, led by Tess and our amazing Library Hub Team led by Margaret to bring together our delightful warm hearted elderly residents in our local community to celebrate memories of the old ballroom and to forge new memories together.”
The ballroom - at Horsforth Mechnanics’ Institute - was opened nearly a century and a half ago, but the roof was in a very bad state. It’s now been restored for the modern age but without taking away its historical character, with lift access and kitchen. It shares the building, as it has from the start, with a library. Now a Leeds City Council community hub, that word ‘hub’ is an appropriate one as this was and is the heart and hub of the community: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/community-hubs
I spoke after Nick Hart, the ‘hub-master’ - head of Customer Contact at Leeds City Council - who thanked the people, many from within the council, who’d made the Ballroom’s rebirth possible.
Doing the honours at the original opening, on Saturday 11th February 1882, was a politician who served as a Conservative Home Secretary, the 1st Earl of Cranbrook (born in Bradford as Gathorne Hardy). In 2025 they got a humble commoner from Hull in East Yorkshire, but who’s now lived longer in the West Riding than the East!
In his speech the Earl commended Mechanics’ Institutes for making the lives of their members ‘more pleasurable and hopeful’ by offering education and a place to socialise – purposes which the library and the Ballroom still serve today. Until the roof problems it had remained in constant use: hosting events from circus skills workshops to comedy; literary panels to a 1940s Valentine’s tea-party dance with period costumes loaned by Leeds Playhouse.
As I said at the end of my short speech: “This historic ballroom is a fantastic space and a really important piece of Horsforth’s local heritage. We are absolutely delighted to be able to re-open it today to be enjoyed by the community for many more years to come. May the dancing begin once more!”
Sadly I had to leave (for another event) before a delicious afternoon tea was served. There was also entertainment from singer John Roberts, the inter-generational dance collective DECODANCE (https://thedancestudioleeds.com/classes/decodance/), a local ukulele choir and MHA Horsforth dance members.
I spoke to many people for whom the Ballroom held powerful memories, as a venue for parties, jumble sales and - of course - dances. One lady, who herself lives with dementia, explained to me that she and her husband had their wedding reception in this very room. And her daughter told us they’d met and done their courting at the Ballroom!
Wonderful memories and how appropriate - it was largely through the work of fine folk committed to improving the lives of people living with dementia that we were all able to celebrate this special day, Here’s to the next 143 years 🥂🕺
If you’d like me to be involved with your event, make a speech, definitely avoid Dad dancing, or talk to your organisation or group about looking after someone with dementia, I’d love to hear from you: https://www.theandrewedwards.com/contact
