STORIES of the Winstanley Babes dancing troupe have stepped out of the past after we asked for your memories.

First to contact Looking Back was Joan Walmsley of Accrington, who was called Clitheroe before her marriage and was a relative of comedian Jimmy.

She recalled: "In the mid-40s I was the baby of the Babes. I was about seven or eight and used to practise in St James Church school hall, Accrington, every Saturday morning, when Miss Winstanley used to travel up from Manchester to put us through our paces.

"I remember performing at the Hippodrome in Accrington and taking part in pantomimes, but was considered too young to travel to any other venues.

"The troupe were extremely good, I remember one of the girls went on to be a Tiller girl at the London Palladium."

The troupe took part in shows all over the country, including a whole season in the Isle of Man, (the girls had to go to school during the day) Swansea and Hull.

Her friend Edna Slater was another Babe and Joan also remembers Audrey Taylor and Florence and Freda Jenkinson.

We also heard from Tony Leecy, whose mother owned a boarding house in Butler Street, Blackburn, where many theatre people stayed while in town.

He said: "I was only a little boy, but I remember the Winstanley Babes staying in the attic, while appearing at the Grand. There were nine of them and they all slept in one big bed! We had many famous names here, including actor Robert Morley, who stayed a two weeks. It was a terrace house, with the WC facilities in the yard but no one minded!"

l If anyone has a programme or poster of the Babes, which particularly mentions another of the girls, Lily Jenkins, her granddaughter Rachael Elliot would like to hear from you.