Two heart attacks won't stop Gloria (From Warrington Guardian)

Two heart attacks won't stop Gloria

THOUGH two heart attacks and a serious spinal injury might have finished her dancing days, Gloria Blair, one of Warrington's premier dance teachers, is determined she will not be beaten.

Two years ago, Gloria - once known in theatre circles as 'the girl with springs in her feet' - had to give up her Thelwall-based school of dance and drama due to spinal injuries she sustained in a blindfold somersault in 1963.

Gloria, aged 69, was distraught, as she had once been a daredevil acrobat, performing in theatres across the country with stars such as Frankie Howerd and Little and Large.

And more recently, she has been plagued by further poor health.

After suffering a heart attack in October, she was transferred from Warrington to Broadgreen Hospital, where she was given emergency surgery to widen her arteries.

Before the operation, doctors warned her that there was a one-in-a-thousand risk of her suffering another heart attack during the procedure. Unfortunately, Gloria had a second heart attack on the operating table.

She is now recovering at home in Prestbury Drive, looked after by her husband of 45 years, Bill.

She said: "Even though my dancing days are over it's not the end of the line for me.

"I've survived two heart attacks and I'm not ready to give up yet.

"I want to enjoy my retirement with my wonderful husband Bill and our grandchildren.

"I won't be beaten. Although I miss teaching and, I suppose, I could do it sitting down, it just wouldn't be the same."

Gloria began her accomplished stage career aged 15 when she starred in Babes in the Wood in a singing, dancing and acting part.

She went on to set up the Gloria Blair School of Dance and Drama in Thelwall in 1964 and claims not one of her hundreds of students failed an exam.