I came into this world in Halifax on May 29, 1944, and when only five months old went to live in Fleetwood, Lancashire, where my father had bought a petrol station and repair shop.

My dancing started at the age of three: I enjoyed learning many different types being in shows and festivals in Fleetwood, Lytham St. Annes and Cleveleys. I won certificates at first, then medals and eventually cups for my dancing.

 My father died when I was seven and two years later my mother decided to return to Yorkshire where all our family lived. Our first house was on Stanley Street, opposite her sister and brother in law. My schooling started at St Andrew’s Junior School; I did not pass the 11 plus exam and went to Rastrick County Secondary School.

Judith the young ballerina, aged eight.

My only request on arriving in Brighouse was to enrol at a dance school. I worked hard and enjoyed every long hour, some days going to dance class straight from school for about four hours and other days going at 7.30pm until 10pm. I often relate the story that I learnt to dance ballet with the accompaniment of the World Champion Brass Band, the Brighouse and Rastrick.

   At the age of 11, I won a Royal Academy of Dance Scholarship with lessons with one of their highly qualified teachers at a studio in Leeds twice a week. This was quite an achievement and another step in the right direction. It meant that at the end of the year I would have to go to London for a week of lessons and exams and if I passed could then attend these special classes for another year, which thankfully I managed to do for four years.

   At 13 years old it was thought that I should have a second string to my bow, and I enrolled at Stead’s Commercial College, at the bottom of High Street, Brighouse, where I enjoyed learning shorthand, typing, book-keeping and commerce.

   I joined the Brighouse Light Opera Society and the Amateur Operatic Society as a dancing girl with some friends.    

The dancers include: Judi Pilling, Jacqueline Hartley, Cathryn Howe, Barbara Fuller, Linda Langley and Christine Dolan.

We rehearsed at weekends and enjoyed watching the acting and singing. The two societies kept us going all year, as soon as we finished performing one show at the Albert Theatre then we would start the next. What a lovely group of people they all were and how enjoyable it was, sometimes nervously, to perform on stage in front of the local people instead of examiners and judges.

   At the age of 16, I won the North of England Senior Ballet Championships and the same year my dance teacher took me for auditions and orthopaedic tests in London at The Royal Ballet School.

   I waited what seemed like weeks for ’The Letter’ to arrive. I dithered and dithered about opening it as my ballet career depended on the result.  It was a Billy Elliott moment. Eventually, I plucked up courage to open the envelope and saw the words ’we are pleased ’. What an amazing moment, I was accepted as a full time student at The Royal Ballet School.

   All went well for a while until I started having pain in my legs. A Harley Street Consultant who came to the school every Friday sent me for x-rays and then a full-body plaster cast. In the end, they decided that a surgical corset would do the trick. This I wore for a few weeks but the fateful day arrived when the consultants told me that I would have to give up my ballet career as it would always aggravate my back problem.

   So, I returned to Brighouse and had no option but to find work.       

   I started at Bradford Dyers Association (BDA) at Brookfoot, where I learned to be a Comptometer Operator. After a couple of years, I was advised to take a modelling course and I joined an agency in Leeds. I was then employed by them and did catwalk shows in Leeds and Harrogate. I also modelled the whole range of dresses for Eastex at their Leeds showroom.

   For other work I worked as a ’temp’ for various companies in and around Brighouse, Elland and Halifax. One of these was British Monorail Ltd, on Wakefield Road, and they offered me a full-time position which meant a regular income, and, as my mother relied on me for financial support, I reluctantly took the offer.

   During this time. I was still dancing in many local shows, having to take painkillers to be able to dance. But it was not as strenuous as ballet school and well worth it.

   Around the age of 20 there was to be a Brighouse Gala for the first time since the war. There was to be a ball at the Assembly Rooms with an audition to choose the first Gala Queen. After being pressurised I agreed to enter and during the evening about 12—15 girls paraded around the ballroom and after a couple of circuits one was chosen .

   The winner was announced at midnight and low and behold it was me.    

 Judith Pilling, the new Brighouse Gala Queen being crowned by the Mayor Councillor Dennis Goodger, at the Brighouse Assembly Rooms.

I was escorted up on to the stage to sit on a throne and was crowned by the Mayor of Brighouse. I had a lovely satin sash put around me with Gala Queen 1965 printed on it in red and a pendant engraved with the Brighouse Coat of Arms and on the back my name and year. I still wear it on occasions today. Someone must have told the band that it was my 21st Birthday and they played 21 Today. It was a lovely happy evening for everyone.

   On Gala day there was a big parade through the town, starting at Hove Edge. I sat on the back of an open-topped Morgan car and my attendants followed in other cars. There were lots of decorated lorries and quite a lovely turn out with lots of people along the route waving. The parade reached its end in Wellholme Park where there were lots of stalls and sideshows and a stage where I had to give a speech.

   It was a lovely day, and the weather was so kind to us. I did not have many duties to perform that year apart from a visit to Storthes Hall Hospital, it had been quite an undertaking for the Gala Committee who were organising the events for the first time.

   On the committee were two people I had known for many years. Ernest Ainley and Jean Tuthill, later to be his wife. Both I had known from the age on nine, being involved in the various shows. I was very happy to be asked to return to the Gala Day after 24 years and again five years ago to head the parade for the 50th Anniversary and most of the Queens from previous years also attended. It was another lovely day and I was made so welcome.

   In 1972, I married and went to live in Clifton, along the road from The Black Horse Inn, which had by then become my local. It was not long before I was asked to be their Receptionist, which was mornings only and suited me better than a full-time position. This I really enjoyed and met many celebrities who stayed there and who were appearing at the Batley Variety Club. Cilla Black and her husband Bobby were frequent visitors.

   After two years my husband changed companies and we went to live in Durham and that year, 1974, my son Mark was born in Newcastle.

   During the four years in the North East and still having back problems. Many more x-rays and blood tests. I was eventually told the reason why I had not been given a diagnosis. That was because when someone is told what their problem is, they then ask what the treatment is. As there was not any for my complaint none of the consultants had the courage to tell me that it was Anklosing Spondylitis, and I may well have a bent spine in years to come. Thankfully, so far that has not happened.

   In 1978, my husband changed jobs again and we went to live in Milton Keynes.   

   We saw the huge development of this town with its new shopping mall, theatre, cinema, ice rink and an amazing road system. When our son was 10 years old I allowed myself to be talked in to applying for a position as Secretary to the Head of Music at the local music centre. I was successful and enjoyed being in such a lively musical atmosphere.

   After two years at the Music Centre, I was asked if I would like to be interviewed for the position of Autocue Operator for the BBC on the Open University Campus at Walton Hall. The Operations Director from Autocue came up to Milton Keynes, and I was to have a trial period of two weeks in the studio with the present operator who was leaving and let him know if I wanted to take on that position.

   I accepted and enjoyed working in the Television Studios and being part of a professional crew and knowing that at the end of the day the programme was ‘in the can’ it was ‘a wrap’ and the show’s director would invite us up to the BBC bar for a drink. I met many celebrities over the years including John Dankworth, his wife Cleo Lane, Russ Conway and David Jacobs.

   I remained as the Autocue Operator at the BBC OUPC (Open University Production Centre) for 20 years until the closure of the studios, a very sad day for all the crew.

   After 32 good years in Milton Keynes, we decided 10 years ago to move to the coast and we now live near Bexhill on Sea. We enjoy fantastic views along the bay to Eastbourne and Beachy Head. I walk along the promenade most days and life is like one long holiday. I attend a tap class once a week and also a line dancing class and walk with friends in the local area and on various beaches regularly.

   In retirement I spend my spare time on one of the balconies watching the sea come and go, sparkling like diamonds in the sunshine and a glistening pathway in the moonlight, how wonderful is that?

Judith Horsley - October 2020