Popular dance teacher was proud of his work

Ron Smith

TRIBUTES have been paid to a dancing champ from Oldham who has left a lasting legacy in the borough.

The funeral of Ron Smith, who has touched the lives of thousands of dance pupils, will take place tomorrow at St Anne’s Church in Royton.

The much-loved ballroom teacher died at the Royal Oldham Hospital on February 16. He was 77.

Born in Salford, he moved to Australia at the age of 15, before returning and completing his national service with the Grenadier Guards.

But it was his role as founder of the Jaymar Dance Centre with late wife Renee that made him a popular figure in Oldham.

Setting up the dance school in 1967 in Rock Street, he passed on his passion for dance for almost four decades.

A former pupil and close friend said: “He was a real gentleman, he was incredibly proud of being a dance teacher, within three minutes of meeting him you’d know what he did.

“He was a very skilful teacher and he worked so hard. All he ever wanted to do was dance. He was caring and lots of people thought the absolute world of him.”

Coaching hundreds of dancers, from tots to adult novices, his young disciples dominated the North-West and national competitions. Ron’s protégés bagged 11 out of 16 titles in 1996.

A long-serving member of the International Dance Teachers’ Association, he received a lifetime achievement award from the committee in 2010.

Giving up the school he created due to ill-health, Ron went on to teach at Trujons, a school set up by a former pupil in Royton, up until his death.

He leaves behind loving partner Clare, brother Bill and sisters Beryl and Janice.

A service will take place at St Anne’s Church from 1.45pm, followed by a committal at Oldham Crematorium at 3pm.