Tributes have been paid to a passionate dancer who repaired war vehicles and organised more than 100 dance evenings with his late wife. Colin Banyard of Oswaldtwistle passed away peacefully in his sleep from pneumonia at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital on December 25, 2024, aged 99.
The beloved father-of-three shared a great love of ballroom and sequence dancing with his late wife Edna and the couple organised fun dance nights at the community centre on Harvey Street, Oswaldtwistle and at Stanhill Methodist Church.
Colin’s son, Ian, said: “Mum and dad also organised dancing events in Blackpool, St Anne’s, and Morecambe. They would book a hotel out and put dancing on.”
Colin was a valued and devoted member of Stanhill Methodist Church where he married Edna in 1951 and they raised funds for the church through the events they organised. His passion for dancing sparked at the age of 14 and Edna was also an accomplished dancer.
The couple met at Accrington Conservative Club where they both liked to dance and they enjoyed dancing at Accrington Town Hall. Wherever the pair went, joyful music followed.
They would take dance CDs with them on their holidays to Spain and Malta. Their skilful dancing and their love of music caught the attention of a hotel in Spain which offered them a position to hold dance nights.
Colin Banyard of Oswaldtwistle with his wife Edna on their wedding day
The devoted grandfather-of-four was born to parents John (Jack) and Violet in Oswaldtwistle and raised on Trinity Street. He then moved to Stanhill, Oswaldtwistle, and after finishing his service with the army he moved to Aspen Lane, Oswaldtwistle.
The former Moor End school pupil worked at Stanhill Ring Laundry and went on to become a motor mechanic apprentice at J&S Leaver in Blackburn. While he was there he served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).
He repaired vehicles that came back from the Second World War including Bedford army trucks and motorcycles as well as lister engines. Colin, who was a cherished brother to June and the late Irene, worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) as an auto setter for more than 30 years until his retirement.
The adored great-grandfather-of-nine was also a passionate pigeon fancier and raced homing pigeons across England. He was the president of the Blackburn and Oswaldtwistle Homing Societies for many years and earned numerous trophies and awards.
Colin developed an interest in the hobby from his father who also entered competitions involving pigeons.
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