Gwendoline
Hilda Jones
The
following is taken from the Eulogy that was given
at Gwen Carter’s funeral:
Gwen was born in Gorleston, Near Great Yarmouth on
29th April 1925. Gwen was often ill as a young girl
and the family doctor suggested that an interest like
dancing might help her. Gwen and Kath therefore started
dancing classes and the rest is history. One of their
teachers during this time was Miss Adams who ran the
Phyllis Adams Dance School. They went on to study
at the Bush Davis School and it soon became apparent
to Miss Bush and Mr Leopold that Gwen had something
special and would go on to be a leading teacher in
the country.
lthough
many people will remember her for teaching Tap and
Modern, Ballet was Gwen’s passion. Amongst her
many remarkable achievements she twice won the coveted
Adeline Geneé silver award, first in 1943 and
again in 1946. In March 1944 she was awarded the Royal
Academy of Dance Solo seal the highest accolade that
the Academy can bestow on student ballet dancers.
Gwen started her teaching career at Bush Davis and
later became the head assistant. During this time
she also became a highly respected examiner for the
ISTD, travelling all over the country. She was a first
class teacher whose caring and nurturing qualities
touched the lives of many dancers many of whom became
her lifelong friends. She possessed a unique honesty
in her teaching and would give endlessly of her time
to anyone as long as they tried their best. She was
not very good at remembering names and had some very
unusual nicknames for many of her pupils.
In
the mid 60’s she then taught at Grandison Clarks
in Croydon and when this school closed in the early
70’s went on to teach at Doreen Bird’s
in Sidcup. In 1975 together with Moria Gay she wrote
a new, very different syllabus for senior tap medals.
Its fresh new concept went down a storm when they
presented it in London. It was during her time at
Bird’s that George came back into her life.
They first met in Dustan, Northampton in 1941. To
many people’s surprise she announced she was
getting married and in November 1976 they tied the
knot.
In the later years Gwen taught for an old friend Wendy
who had continued her mother’s school the Phyllis
Adams Dance School in Great Yarmouth. Gwen also taught
at the Dance Studio in Norwich run by her friend Charlotte,
one of her former students. Gwen, with George accompanying
her on the piano became a popular double act, loved
and respected by the many students, young and old,
who attended their classes. By the 1990’s Gwen’s
rheumatoid arthritis meant she could no longer manage
with a walking stick and although she now needed a
wheelchair she still continued to teach. It was only
when George could no longer manage the drive to Norwich
that she finally hung up her teaching shoes.
Gwen was very unassuming with regard to her many achievements
and has made so many dear friends over the years including
other dancing teachers, students and their parents.
She has deservedly earned respect and admiration in
the world of dance. She will be sadly missed by so
many people but will be remembered with much love
and admiration.
We will now hear from Gwen’s many friends,
who loved her dearly. Innately rhythmical, inventive
and creative
We were honoured and lucky to work with Gwen Carter.
In the years we three spent working together she was
an inspiration. Sometimes we would discuss things
or simply 'fiddle' around together until something
was formulated. Other times, with her husband George
at the piano, we would each go into separate comers
of the room for ten minutes or so and then get back
together. She would say: "What have you got and
what have you got?" and from there, at each session,
something new was born. George, a pianist, commented
on her perfect timing and how he could keep strict
tempo from simply following her.
Prior
to this time Gwen was already experienced at the task
of creating new syllabi. She had, for many years,
worked successfully with Moyra Gay creating the lovely
Senior Medal syllabus. And an earlier memory comes
from the classic piece she arranged at Gold Star Level
to the music of Georgia. This Gold Star amalgamation
is clearly remembered and often performed by some
of us and it could still claim a place amongst the
work we have now progressed to.
She
was particularly well-known in her capacity for creating
work for the ISTD Tap syllabi but is equally well
remembered as a teacher. A hard task master she would
expect the best both rhythmically and artistically
and worked incessantly to create a natural, easy style.
Pat’s
fondest memories of Miss Gwen are of the working sessions
at HQ. When the creative juices and concentration
began to flag her dry sense of humour, encouragement
and rhythmic feet would soon get us back into the
choreographic mode, furthering the development of
the then ‘New Tap Syllabi’. Heather, too,
values those wonderful creative sessions and has fond
memories of working with her at Doreen Bird College;
and also of visiting Miss Gwen and George for musical
sessions in her lovely home town of Great Yarmouth.
We both remember her as a valued colleague.
Pat
Ellis and Heather Rees Gwen Carter was a unique and
talented personality in the teaching world and will
be sadly missed by us all here in Norfolk.
For
those of us who have been privileged enough to have
been taught by her, we will always have fond memories
of her dry humour and the vivacious twinkle in the
eye.
She
was a brilliant tap teacher who had the ability to
correct a student's work from ten miles by just listening
to the sound, which was a terrifying skill that commanded
deep respect. She had an innate ability to get to
the root of a student's problem with a compassionate
and a 'no nonsense' style. She didn't suffer fools
gladly and especially hated insincerity. She was an
extremely honest person and as a student you learnt
a great deal about yourself whilst training with her.
I
was lucky enough to be trained by Gwen at the Doreen
Bird College, as both a colleague and then later to
have her as a member of my staff at the Central School,
Norwich where she and George led the Major Tap work.
When I was pregnant with my son, they loyally travelled
each week from Hemsby to nurture our young professionals
and also our avid amateurs with equal tender loving
care. They continued in that role for over 10 years.
Their presence on a Thursday was a great support to
me.
My
happiest memories of Gwen are: at my wedding reception,
George playing the piano, which had been rolled into
my school with Gwen joyously tapping and partying
in the cloakroom with him. Indeed, an impromptu and
happily mad moment; When my son, Alexander was six
months old, they arranged and choreographed 'Alexander's
ragtime band' for a Theatre Royal school show; I remember
Alexander sitting in his baby seat watching the students
tapping one of Gwen’s best and quivering with
joy at the exciting noise and rhythms, Gwen laughing
at him and loving every minute of his response. I
arranged an eightieth party for George, which accidentally
turned into a smashing twenty-fifth wedding anniversary
party for them both; Gwen's eightieth birthday party
where she thanked her friends so lovingly with a fine
speech. Those special lifetime friends like Cathleen
Carty, Kay Goddard and Wendy Roche who all shared
in her teaching world more privately. And finally
Gwen's wise quotes never to be forgotten: “Be
loyal to your school and fly its flag!”
“You
only get the mark for the forty minutes the examiner
sees your work. Make it your best ever and you might
get a better mark than anyone expects of you.”
She stoically continued to teach against her disabling
illness and always enjoyed her students. I often refer
to the two G's: George and Gwen. They were a team
and are now reunited. I suspect Gwen is instructing
with a stem glance to George “slow down Georgie
don't go rushing off” and he is peeping over
the piano with a mischievous grin and a wink to whoever
is in that heavenly tap class making them all smile.
Gwennie, we love and miss you.
Charlotte
Corbett I class myself as being extremely lucky to
have had the opportunity to develop a friendship with
Gwen Carter. The friendship went through three important
phases of my life, each with its own special memories.
Phase one was the student, tutor role. Gwen taught
me at Bird College for three years where she trained
me for my ISTD Tap, Modern and Associate exams. It
was during this time that Gwen showed her expertise
in how to nurture and develop students to the best
of their ability without making anyone feel as though
they were not achieving. It was also a time when I
learned the value of rhythm, tone and the importance
of a strong sense of time. Poor George, Gwen's husband
and pianist for class, would often get a good ticking
off for going too quick. What fun those classes were.
Phase
two was that of student teacher, and mentor. Gone
are the days when your first rung on the work ladder
started with an apprenticeship. However, after receiving
a phone call from Doreen Bird asking me to join the
Bird College faculty as a student teacher, my apprenticeship
began. Gosh, wasn't I lucky. Sitting and observing
a master at work. To this day it has proved invaluable.
I am still using some of Gwen's teaching methods and
odd quotes within my lessons.
The
third and final phase was that of a true friend whom
I admired for so many reasons. Gwen loved nothing
more than to invite myself and my family to stay with
her and George for long weekends. They both loved
to take you out and about showing you around Great
Yarmouth. Buying lovely fresh fish that was cooked
and eaten back at their bungalow, not forgetting to
mention the lethal concoction of Gin and Sherry that
was a favourite of Gwens. I always slept well at bedtime!
Although Gwen had to stop teaching she still had a
keen interest in the movements of the ISTD. She looked
forward to me sending her my copies of DANCE once
I had finished with them and would love nothing more
than to challenge new initiatives debating whether
or not she agreed with the changes.
I know that Gwen will be truly missed by many people
and by me especially. I draw comfort from hoping that
Gwen is reunited with George, and that the loving
banter between them is being continued in their new
lives together.
Tracy
Lee
I
was so sorry to hear that Gwen had passed away. I
have many happy memories of dear Gwen from our student
days together at the First Bush-Davies boarding school
at Boxmoor in Hertfordshire, not forgetting of course
her sister Kathy. Gwen was a good friend and needless
to say a superb technician, artist and teacher in
all forms of dance. I will never forget an occasion
when Gwen and I were performing an attractive Tango
Tap Duet, it was quite challenging, but the biggest
challenge was to appear the same height as I was 5
feet 8 inches and Gwen about 5 foot 4 inches. The
solution was for me to dance on exceedingly bent knees
and Gwen to hardly bend at all. It took us some time
to recover but it was worth it! I'm sure she will
be sadly missed by so many people in the world of
dance.
Daphne
Peterson
I
have fond memories of Gwen and George whilst training
for my Tap Associate at Bird College. Gwen was a fantastic
teacher and with George on the piano it was the perfect
combination! I learnt so much during that time and
I will never foget her wonderful sense of humour.
Helen
Green
I
had the privilege of becoming one of Miss Gwen's young
students at Bush Davies School at the age of 11. I
have many happy memories of Modem and Tap classes
in the hall at Charters Towers both as a participant
and observer as there was a balcony from which we
juniors used to watch the seniors with awe. Miss Gwen
taught us all with a wonderful dry sense of humour
and gave us a thorough understanding of each movement
with the theory behind it, but most important was
the rhythm with some lessons completely dedicated
to this. Whenever studio space was difficult we would
have lessons in the conservatory where the space was
limited but for tap the tiled floor really sparkled
and we loved the sound. Here we would concentrate
on time steps and rhythm, the love of both has stayed
with me always. I was introduced to ISTD Congress
as one of Miss Gwen's demonstrators at a young age
and as this was then held at the end of July, we stayed
at school after the end of term where we were looked
after by Miss Gwen who although not then the most
adventurous cook, made sure we were well fed, raiding
the school kitchen whenever possible. Miss Gwen had
an amazing sense of rhythm the gift of which she gave
to me and all her students. I am so lucky and privileged
to have known and been taught by this wonderful lady
who has directly and indirectly given so much to so
many ISTD teachers.
Jill
Knight
