Beauty queen Jennifer Welford is adding a touch of glamour to the Evening Times Glas-goals campaign by stepping out in support of the World’s Biggest Ever Tea Dance.
The trained dancer and Miss Universe GB finalist is a service development officer with Glasgow Housing Association and has been putting her colleagues through their paces to prepare for our event in George Square on September 12.
The dance, in association with the GHA and Glasgow Life, the city’s sports organisation, is aimed at reclaiming the Biggest Tea Dance title for the city and Jennifer, 24, is passionate about bringing the record back to Glasgow.
“I didn’t know much about ballroom dancing until I heard about this event and now I am hooked,” she says.
“I went to one of the tea dances at the Kelvin Hall and had a great time. I hope everyone – no matter what age they are – will join in and we will get this world record for Glasgow!”
Jennifer, from Paisley, who came third in the Miss Universe Scotland heats, and represented her country in the GB finals in Birmingham, trained in her home town before moving to London to work as a dancer.
“Tea dancing is very different from the kind of dancing I have done previously, but I love it,” she says.
“It is great fun and keeps you fit, whatever age you are, whatever style of dance you like.”
Her boyfriend, Craig Flannery, and her mum, Jackie, will also be joining in to support our world record attempt.
Jennifer adds: “I think I have persuaded Craig to dance with me and my mum is also bringing along a crowd, so we are all looking forward to it. It will be such a great day and it would be fantastic to get the record!”
Glasgow broke the record last year for the world’s biggest tea dance, with 209 couples, but London’s Royal Opera House took it from the city in July with a total of 254 couples.
Our world record attempt takes place from noon-3pm in George Square and an adjudicator from Guinness World Records will be there to make sure everything runs smoothly.
To qualify for the record we must have a theme, so we are asking everyone to wear something tartan – anything from a bow tie, a hat or a waistcoat to full Highland dress.
If you do not own anything tartan, we will provide you with a tartan sash on the day.
It does not matter if you can’t dance a step because instructors will be on hand to help you, and there will be free tea and scones, plus plenty of seating, for breaks between the dances.
Hundreds of people have already signed up to take part, so don’t delay – register now to make sure you do not miss out on the fantastic opportunity to be among our recordbreakers. Closing date for registration is September 8.
Gerry Scanlon, GHA’s senior procurement adviser and who attended the association’s dance class, said: “The Glas-goals tea dance is a great idea.
“Jennifer’s class was a brilliant way for GHA staff to brush up their dance skills at lunchtime.”
Councillor Anne McTaggart, a board member of Glasgow Life, said: “We never had any doubt Glasgow people would want to bring this record back home.
“But we want to reclaim the record in true Glasgow style, so it is vital as many people as possible register for what will be a fantastic day.”
- To register, call 0141 287 4350 or send an e-mail to: tony.mckay@glasgowlife.org.uk
You can also write to: World’s Biggest Tea Dance, c/o Tony McKay, Glasgow Life, 20 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5ES, or drop in your details – name, address, telephone number and e-mail address - to the GHA shop at 173 Trongate.
Usual Evening Times terms and conditions apply.
Sign up to be part of the health revolution
Do you want to get involved in Glas-goals? Well, here’s your chance.
Our campaign is aimed at tackling the city’s appalling health record and it is for everyone, regardless of your age or where you live.
The Evening Times has teamed up with a number of partners including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Housing Association.
And we’ve been working with other key groups including Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief to help improve the health of every Glaswegian.
We are targeting a series of health goals, including basic fitness, obesity, diet and smoking.
We can help Glasgow stub out a million cigarettes, run, walk, cycle and swim a million miles and lose hundreds of thousands of pounds in weight.
We intend to raise the profile of the great projects – large and small – already tackling health issues across the city.
And throughout the year, we will be staging fun, informative health and fitness events.
Working together – with our partners, with our communities and with our readers – we can make a better future for Glasgow.
So why not sign up today and be part of the Glas-goals health revolution?
Tell us what your goals are for 2010 by sending an email to glasgoals@heraldandtimes.co.uk
