A North East dance teacher has received a New Year’s Honour following more than half a century of service to the community.

Alison Fordy, 70, from Nunthorpe, was awarded an MBE for her services to young people and to the community.

Mrs Fordy, who has been teaching for 53 years, said she began the dance school at the Lake Social Club in Redcar.

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She said that the school received a strong following from the Redcar and Marske area and has since taught generations of pupils.

She said: “The people that we were involved at that time are still within the school, and their children have been in the school, and I’m sort of waiting for grandchildren now.

“We’ve built amazing long-lasting bonds, I’m so, so proud that we still keep in touch.

“It’s my biggest sense of pride to see them grown from three, four, five-year-olds when they come, and then go off as great young people into the world.”

She said she found out about her award after receiving a letter informing her an application had been put forward for her contributions, and later received a phone call confirming her new title had been authorised by King Charles.

“Very surreal, excited, a bit bewildering. [I’m] very honoured to think that people have written in on my behalf and given these letters of appreciation for the thing I’ve done for them over the years,” Mrs Fordy added.

“I’m a member of Middlesbrough Bowling Club and when we went in there a couple of nights ago, I got a standing ovation and a clap from there.

“I think people just like the fact that they know somebody who has been recognised, it’s just quite nice that it happened to be me.”

She added the school has worked to be inclusive of those with a variety of needs and had worked to support the community.

Mrs Fordy said the school has provided job references for former pupils, assisted with Duke of Edinburgh award work, and is raring to return on Saturday (January 6).

She said the school will be bidding farewell to many senior students heading to university soon, and added she will miss them after they depart.

She added many of her former students will still come back and take part in a lesson periodically and this fills her with “pride.”

Mrs Fordy, who has undergone two hip replacements, says she receives teaching assistance from her daughter, Joanne and other teachers, Sue and Janette.

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She added she still plans and puts together the routines, and joked the “girls with the younger legs” make the performance “look good.”

“Not sure how many more years I’ve got left in my legs I have to say,” she added

“I’ve always said when the day comes when I get up in the morning and I think I’ve lost the spark, the will, then I’ll know and that will be the day.