FORMER pupils of the Jean Inwards School of Dance, based in Hanworth Park, have raised over £3,500 of funding for the Shooting Star Trust to help build a hospice for terminally sick children.

In May, Principal Mrs Jean Bridle, wrote to the Times to find former pupils to attend a 50th anniversary reunion, and received a huge response.

In celebration of the anniversary, the dancers held four performances of their 39th display at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, with the proceeds going to the charity.

The display was entitled Golden Memories' and covered all types of entertainment including ballet, tap, modern, acrobatics and singing.

There were 180 performers whose ages ranged from three to late 30s. Mrs Bridle told the Times: "The babies were enchanting as cute bunnies and all the performers gave a polished performance to enthusiastic packed audiences who acclaimed the display our best ever'.

"The costumes mostly designed by the wardrobe mistress, June Spink, were superb - colourful and sparkling! Trophies and prizes were presented by former pupils Ross Dawes, who is now understudying Professor Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and his brother Stuart who is currently appearing in We Will Rock You'."

An examiner for the British Arts who adjudicated the show for the Display of the Year', told the Times: "This was an extremely well staged and entertaining show. The standard of presentation was particularly high, the babies as ever gave great amusement value.

"In addition, all of the older children seemed to respond really well to the show situation as a whole and rarely was there a blank face in the audience, who all enjoyed themselves.

"The older pupils certainly are good examples for the younger ones to copy and there is obviously a tradition which has been built up over the past fifty years to give a continuity to the school."