Stranded dancers look for pick-me-up

BUS-STOPPED: principal Andrea Thorpe with the Oldham Sapphires

Bus loan would help Sapphires sparkle
A DANCE troupe is appealing for kind-hearted bus bosses to come to their rescue after their own transport broke down.

Oldham Sapphires, whose members come from Fitton Hill, Limeside, rehearse at Ashton Road Congregational Church twice a week.

But the talented formation dancers had a shock as they waited to be picked up by their double-decker for a competition in Fleetwood.

The youngsters were left bitterly disappointed when the bus broke down without even leaving the borough, dashing their dreams for the remaining weeks of the competition season.

The troupe is now appealing for companies to loan them a bus or coach for the next few weekends.

Joyce Steel, from Abbeyhills Road, said her daughter Joyce-Marie and two grand-daughters, Danielle and Kia, are members of the group.

She added: “The troupe principle Andrea Thorpe sold her own car and took out a loan to buy the bus when she formed the group three years ago.

“But it just broke down as we were setting off to pick up the girls.

“Three mechanics came out between 6 and 8.30am but it was deemed beyond repair.

“It was so sad, especially for the younger ones, as many haven’t left Oldham and were looking forward to seeing the seaside.”

The group still have four contests left with the season finale being a weekend-long event at Pontin’s, Southport.

Joyce said: “One of our senior girls is a bus driver so we would only need the loan of the vehicle and only at the weekend.

“Once the competitions are over, we’re going to start fundraising for another bus.”

Andrea Thorpe said: “It would mean so much to the girls if we had a bus to see us through the end of the season.

“We’ve got four teams of dancers in the troupe but I’ve only been able to take the older girls out because they can drive themselves.

“It’s the younger ones who are suffering and its a shame because we were doing so well in competitions.”

Anyone who can help the troupe in their hour of need should call 0161-652 9904.