Tributes paid to Chipping Warden line dancer

Anne Drew had been ill with cancer for three years, and died at home at the age of 71 on February 28. Her husband, Clive, died of a heart attack at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury following a short illness on January 28.

The couple had run the Double D Line Dance Club for 18 years, and held classes in Woodford Halse, Chipping Warden and Boddington. The popular club also held regular socials and the couple also ran line dance trips away and held charity workshops, raising funds for Katharine House Hospice and the Air Ambulance Trust.

Mrs Drew’s daughter Alison paid tribute to her mum, and said: “She was a popular teacher who made line dancing fun and enjoyable for so many people. Although she stopped dancing a couple of years ago after becoming ill with cancer, she still kept in touch with many of her friends from the line dancing world.

“To have mum and dad die so soon after each other has been very hard for everyone. Our thanks go to those who have supported us through this difficult time.”

Born in Newport, south Wales, Mrs Drew was the eldest daughter of Jack and Elizabeth Stuchbury, and her father had been working to help camouflage the Alcan building in south Wales as part of the war effort.

Aside from her line dancing duties, Mrs Drew was also well known at Banbury’s cattle market, having worked there for more than 30 years.

Originally working behind the scenes in the office and on the switchboard, she moved on to become a familiar face for local farmers as the company’s chief cashier before her retirement.

Mrs Drew had two daughters, Alison and Lorraine, and five grandsons. Her funeral was held at Banbury Crematorium last Thursday.