Retirement home staff hold Strictly Come Dancing competition

Fun-laden retirement home employees created their very own Strictly-inspired showdown, training rigorously for two months with pros before battling it out for the coveted Glitterball prize. A spirited squad of seven staff from various McCarthy Stone sites stepped up for the show-stopping final at Llanthony Place in Gloucester. The determined contestants were coupled with professional dance partners to undergo an hour of practice weekly over an eight-week stretch, honing their skills.

Marie Bird, the 48 year old marvel, clinched the victory alongside her dance ally James Hall, impressing the crowd with a rhythmic jive to the tune 'You Can't Stop the Beat' from 'Hairspray'. . Not one historically versed in dance, Marie has since been bitten by the bug and eagerly enrolled in a local dance group to perpetuate her newfound passion.

Read more: Liam Payne was 'preyed upon' Bubbly administrator Marie expressed: "It was fun - so, so much fun. The thrill of actually getting steps right (sometimes) threw me off guard." Her confession continued with a vivid recollection, "I was genuinely terrified of falling flat on my face during my jive.

" She recounted with excitement, "There was lots of twists and kicks and fancy footwork that I didn’t even know I was capable of, but James was confident that I could do it – so I did! ". Overflowing with appreciation, she added, "I am so grateful to have knocked another thing off my bucket list and to have shared this tremendous experience with my colleagues." And she shares a slice of advice: "If you get the opportunity – do it! You have to.

" Dubbed as 'Strictly Come Llanthony', the lively affair was birthed from the ingenious concept of Mathew Daniels, the estate manager at Llanthony Place, who also took the reins as co-host on the dazzling evening of September 26. The couples moved gracefully together, performing a foxtrot to the tune of "All That Jazz" from the hit musical Chicago. Surpassing their initial goal of £2,000 by a significant margin, they raised a stellar amount of over £5,750 for the McCarthy Stone Foundation well before the event's date.

McCarthy Stone responded generously by matching the figure, propelling the total past £14,000, and contributions are still welcomed on JustGiving. Fiona Docherty, Managing Director and a trustee of the McCarthy Stone Foundation, expressed her joy: "The happiness and welfare of older people is at the heart of everything we do." She continued, "Therefore, we are beyond delighted, in partnership with Llanthony Secunda Priory, DanceStars Gloucester, and lead sponsors Badminton Developments, to have raised more than £14,100 for the McCarthy Stone Foundation.

" Docherty added, "The Strictly Come Llanthony event was a huge success and it was a pleasure to welcome guests from across Gloucestershire to witness this fantastic occasion and spread the community spirit." For those looking to contribute further, the JustGiving page remains open at: https://www.justgiving.

com/campaign/strictlycomellanthony?.