Peter
Varley was an ISTD examiner for nearly thirty years until the
cruel illness from which he died 13th July 2005.
Peter with his professional partner Diana Talbot won the
Latin American South of England Championships and in both
1961 & 1962 they were runners up in the International
Championships at the Royal Albert Hall London; Imperial
Trophy winners and finalists in the Star, UK and World
Championships (all Latin American), as well as ten dance
finalists.
On numerous occasions he demonstrated and taught on live
television for the BBC's very popular ‘Television
Dancing Club’, hosted by the late Victor Sylvester.
Peter was a prolific Sequence Dance inventor who produced many
winning dances. His 1971 winning dance, Rumba One, is a perennial
favourite.
Peter Varley was born in West Croydon on the 8th January 1931,
to proud parents Joseph and Frances, the youngest of five children.
Sadly, Peter's father died when he was just two years old. None
the less Peter's memories of childhood were good. He was enveloped
in the warmth of a happy home life, with eldest sister Margaret
acting as second ‘Mum’, to Peter. This was because
it fell to his mother alone, to support the family, which she
did by running a knitwear business. Peter was a well behaved
child with a happy disposition. However, as with most young
boys, he had a slightly mischievous streak, which at five years
old, would manifest itself by Peter running like the wind in
the opposite direction, when doting Aunt Nora came to call.
Expert at hiding, he thus avoided being smothered with kisses
from Aunty!
Peter's favourite hobby as a child was to build model
aeroplanes. His fascination with planes stayed with him
into adulthood. He thrilled to the excitement of flying
and whenever he could, went on gliding courses, flying
light aircraft. When time came for Peter to serve his
two years National Service, it was of course the RAF he
chose.
On returning home aspirations of qualifying as an architect
had to be left behind. Instead Peter worked for the large
Kayser Bonda fabrics company as Manager, with added responsibility
for overseeing window dressing in all their London stores.
So how did Peter get from window dressing and shop management
to competitive dancing, teaching and examining? It was the skating!
As a young man Peter took up ice-skating, which he enjoyed immensely
and for which he undoubtedly had a natural talent. He spent
many a happy time practicing his skating skills at the local
rink in nearby Purley. Horror of horrors, the rink was closed
and transformed into a ballroom. Peter was devastated. It was
with considerable reluctance and feeling of trepidation that
he went along to see what was what and to perhaps learn to shuffle
around the floor!
Within just weeks (with a strong push from his teacher),
Peter entered his first competition. That was it, he went
from strength to strength, firstly with his amateur partner
Malvina Bishop. They won the All England Latin American
Championships and then with his professional partner Diana
Talbot. Together, he and Diana were finalists, sometimes
winners of all the major Latin Championships of the day.
Marion Brown, in a recent tribute to Peter wrote ‘His
dancing was in the original Latin style with an emphasis
on rhythm and control’. This so aptly describes
Peter's dancing style.
It was upon retiring from their very successful competitive
career that Peter took on the responsibilities and freedom that
working for himself as a dance teacher, gave. He never, ever,
lost his enthusiasm for teaching. He ran a very happy, productive
school. His talents equipped him equally well in running a children's
party dance, adults social class, medallists, competitors or
training professionals to the highest levels of qualifications.
I quote part of Marion Lane's recent tribute to Peter
as her teacher ‘His qualities far surpassed his
knowledge of our craft; kindness and integrity, coupled
with a real sense of humour made him a very rare and special
person, as well as a teacher with a great depth of knowledge
and understanding’. Marion also mentions how the
studio cat would sometimes jump up onto her shoulders
whilst she demonstrated. This is an unusual but I'm sure,
excellent way to relieve the tension in a theory lesson!
Peter adored the Latin rhythms and would put his talent
of being able to play ‘by ear’, any of the
instruments that lined the studio walls, to good use.
He would highlight musical accents enabling him to put
across to pupils of all levels, the character of the dance
by his playing, as well as his dancing. This helped pupils
develop a greater understanding of the rhythm, giving
insight to the fact that rhythm is the very essence of
Latin dance.
Peter Varley loved and was good at all aspects of his
work. But in his entire career, the honour that he most
cherished was his appointment in 1976, of being made an
ISTD examiner. He had declined an offer of examiner status
made to him by another society. With this new path as
ISTD examiner (appointment achieved only through interview
selection and rigorous examination), a new dimension was
added to Peter's work. He enjoyed the whole experience
immensely and always felt privileged to have the opportunity
to gain insight into other teacher's schools.
This handsome, immaculately groomed, impeccably mannered gentleman
possessed qualities that endeared him to candidates and teachers
alike. Always professional and quietly spoken, he was the epitome
of a perfect gentleman; a perfect examiner!
It is not possible to profile Peter's life without mention
of four legged creatures, cars and humour! Over the years
many animals have experienced the privilege of being owned
by Peter. Most of which he adopted because they had fallen
on hard times. He adored anything with four legs and a
tail but had a particular passion for Labradors and the
ordinary domestic moggy. Some of you will remember fondly
Peter's dog Max, the Labrador that had diabetes.
Many of you may know of Peter's love for cars - classic cars,
sports cars and American cars. Years ago it was nothing for
Peter to have two or three cars at a time. Whilst running one,
he would be administering TLC to the others in the ‘sick
bay’ of his garage. Someone spent many hours trying to
help but was never promoted beyond the ‘gofers’
post! Promotion or not, an added dimension of joy was added
to Peter's life by his partner Jill (Jill Bush - Chair of the
Sequence Faculty Committee). Jill and Peter were perfect partners.
We each and every one of us Jill, send kind thoughts to you
in your loss. We want you to know that like you, we have not
and will not forget Peter. Peter and Jill's close friends Keith
and Daphne Wellington say of Peter ‘We remember you for
many reasons but most of all as a much loved friend’.
It is time to talk of an aspect of Peter's personality known
to Keith and Daphne and all who knew him well; his sharp wit.
I think you will find Margaret Connon's reference to this most
enlightening. ‘His quiet exterior hid a mischievous sense
of humour and when he saw the funny side of something his face
would crease up, his shoulders shake with mirth and tears roll
down his face - all without uttering a sound. My house is home
to a large collection of teddy bears and after a visit from
Peter and Jill, I would often find some of them standing on
their heads, precariously balanced one on top of the other -
‘doing their exercises’, Peter would explain when
challenged’ .
My lasting thoughts of Peter Varley are of an intelligent, highly
principled, modest man. A kind and gentle gentleman, whose love
of and talent for dancing, teaching and examining, was clear
for all to see. Peter's goodness and humanity enriched the lives
of all whose
path he crossed.
Peter
Varley was an ISTD examiner for nearly thirty years until the
cruel illness from which he died 13th July 2005.
