THE Clarke Foley Centre was Mary Conroy’s place to be this week as she celebrated her 92nd birthday with Darren and Jane, Ilkley’s answer to Line Dancing at Clarke Foley.

Each Thursday, Mary travels by train from Shipley to the Clarke Foley Intermediate class but must catch two buses to get home again.

Mary said: “I just love dancing and of course socialising, I have lots of good friends here and love Ilkley too.” Mary discovered line dancing when she travelled to Malta with her husband nearly 20 years ago. When returning to her home in Shipley, she saw a notice in her local Post Office and continued her passion, eventually finding a class in Ilkley after visiting for a coffee one Saturday with a friend.

Mary lost her husband 16 years ago, but even though he never danced they were always on the go. She remembers riding on a tandem to Ilkley in the 1950s, but nowadays it’s the line dancing which keeps her feeling young and fit.

If anybody is interested in joining Line Dancing at Clarke Foley, Darren and Jane (The Harrogate Dance Centre) run a beginner’s class and an intermediate class every Thursday.

They also hold a monthly Saturday Dance from 2pm to 5pm which includes pie and peas. Dancing includes: Ballroom, Latin, Sequence and Line Dancing). Everyone is welcome to either session.