A MAN who set up Darwen’s first dancing classes has died aged 96.

William Lee taught hundreds of people modern ballroom after setting up his own studio in the 1940s.

He hosted regular weekly sessions at various locations in Darwen including the old Ambulance Hall across from the British Queen pub.

His son Bill, 59, of Kestrel Drive, said: “He loved dancing and was very good at it.

"He didn’t dance in competitions but often went judging in Manchester.

“At the time there weren’t the clubs and bars there are today, so the formal dances he put on were the only thing young people could do. He was a pioneer in that way.

“When I was younger I couldn’t go anywhere without people saying hello or buying me sweets because I was Bill Lee’s son. He carried on until disco took over in the 1970s. He said it would never catch on but he got that wrong!”

Mr Lee, from the Whitehall area of Darwen, leaves behind children Bill, Kathleen, Barry and Josephine, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family are unsure where Mr Lee’s love of dancing stemmed from, but said he took it up as a professional after serving in the RAF for six years.

Bill added: “He was a brilliant dad. He always had the time for us. He was a dedicated family man with traditional values. He also took up golf after my mum Kathleen died in 1977, and could be seen every day at Darwen Golf Club.”

Mr Lee died a week ago at Royal Blackburn Hospital from pulmonary pneumonia after a fall. He will be buried at Darwen Cemetry following a service at St Peter’s Church at 12.30pm today.