WHEN a village dance group took its first faltering steps inside a church-owned hut, they could little have imagined that they would eventually be putting on shows featuring more than 100 children.

Reader Alan Winstanley (these days better known for his choral singing) has fond memories of those Billinge School of Dancing days of some decades ago.

For he helped fund-raise and organise full-scale dance displays at the Theatre Royal and more modest concerts at smaller venues. Money raised went to various local charities.

Joan Winstanley, says Alan, was the main driving force behind the Billinge dance school. Earlier, during the 1950s, in partnership with Vera Lyon, she ran two similar enterprises, off Evans Street, Prescot, and Bleak Hill Road, Windle.

Now, Alan wonders how many of those nimble footed kiddies, now well into adulthood, still have happy recollections of those dancing days. "No doubt many will have children of their own, probably attending dancing schools dotted around the district."

For, as Alan points out, St Helens is still rich in dancing talent. "The dance schools do a fantastic job and the children get a real kick out of being on stage."

Another activity that Alan, of Stafford Road, Toll Bar, was involved with was the Billinge Eagles junior rugby team which has vanished from the village scene. "I didn't know a great deal about the game, but my two sons, Keith and Paul, persuaded me to form a team."

The response was overwhelming, Alan recruited Saints fanatic Roy Graham as emergency coach and before long the Eagles were fielding three teams of various age groups. That's when Billinge-based former Saints and Hull playerTommy Finn came to the rescue.

The Eagles (who got their name from their Eagle & Child headquarters) produced at least two stars of the future, says Alan. These were Andy Platt, Saints, Wigan and Great Britain star, and his brother, Duncan, who also went on to play professionally.

THE seasons may have passed, but those memories still glow brightly in Alan's mind, and doubtless in those of the little dancers and mini-rugby players he helped put on the Billinge map.