Midday dance leads for Helston's Flora Day revealed

Leading couple are half brother and sister Kevin Williams and Sharon Rimmer, who have more than 60 years of dancing experience between them.

Kevin, the son of town councillor and former mayor Ronnie Williams and his wife Debby, began dancing at St Michael’s Primary School, then continued through Helston School and into the morning and evening dance, which he was second lead for in 2008.

He took part in the midday for the first time in 2009 and has danced since then with his wife Emma.

Kevin, who is also a Flora Day steward, said: “It’s an exciting honour, to represent my home town at such a momentous occasion.”

The 36-year-old added of the day: “It’s in our family. It’s better than Christmas; the one day of the year you always look forward to every year.”

Kevin is the managing director of Helston-based Carpet Connection, having started there 15 years ago and becoming a director two years’ later. He has been the man in charge for the past three years.

He lives with Emma and their two children, five-year-old Oliver and three-year-old Rory, with a third on the way.

Sharon is Kevin’s half sister, as Ronnie Williams is also her father – but she did not know they had been paired as leads until the letter arrived in the post.

She said: “I couldn’t have wished to dance with anyone better.

“I was completely and utterly shocked. I’m so very, very excited – this is just amazing. I’ve danced quite a few times, but never up at the front.”

Sharon began dancing at St Michael’s Primary School but then moved to St Ives, so did not take part in the children’s dance again until senior school.

She began dancing in the midday around ten or 12 years ago.

Sharon has already bought her dress, keeping it local by going to Christine Woods at the Bridal Studio in Helston.

“I’ve always got my dress from her, but it’s something a bit special this year,” she added.

Sharon said it was the atmosphere of the day that she loved, explaining: “When you’re in the Guildhall waiting – you can’t explain that to anyone. And this year will be even more special.”

In what will be a big year for the family, her seven-year-old grandson Stewart Patterson will be dancing with Parc Eglos for the first time, her daughter Holly Leonard will be dancing with Sharon’s husband Nigel in the midday for the first time and her son Kyle Leonard hopes to be in the morning and evening for the first time if his application is accepted.

Sharon, 44, has worked as a nurse in A&E at the Royal Cornwall Hospital for the last seven years, but last week was offered a job in the urgent care centre at Penzance.

Husband Nigel is a builder and a retained fireman in Helston.

Just like Kevin, the second lead couple have also experienced the honour of leading before – although also not in the midday.

Tracey Cullen and Jonathan Bassett, whose mothers Margaret Rutter and Angela Bassett are second cousins, have danced together for 28 years and were lead pair in the morning and evening dance back in 2009.

However, Tracey, who during her school years danced with St Micahel’s infants and Helston School, said: “I never thought that I would get the chance to have been chosen to be in the leading set of the Midday Dance.

“I was completely shocked when I received the letter from the Flora Day Committee; it took me a couple of attempts to read the letter before it actually sank in. it is such an honour and a privilege to be asked to do this.”

She continues to follow in her family’s footsteps, with her mother Margaret Rutter and father Keith Hocking leading the 7am and 5pm dances in the past and her father and aunt Jean Tonkyn leading the midday in 1964.

Tracey, who lives with her husband Simon in Fareham, Hampshire, added: “Flora Day means everything to me and now especially as I live in Hampshire, I make sure at the beginning of the year to book the time off to come down to dance.

“I could not cope with not being in Helston for Flora Day and not to hear the sound of the first beat of the big bass drum – even now when I hear it, it makes me cry.”

Jonathan also lives away, in Ruislip, Middlesex. However, his mother Angela and father Dennis, a preacher, still live in Helston.

Describing himself as “surprised and honoured,” he said: “You always think it’s an honour to lead, but you never think you’ll be the one to be in the lead set.

“It’s the tradition and the community of the day – it’s an excuse to go back home and it’s always a good celebration. Especially people like me who have had to move away for work.”

Jonathan danced all the way through St Michael’s Primary School and then took a break before joining the morning and evening, which he danced for around 20 years.