Dancing Couple From Rose Court Care Home Win Place In Strictly Grand Final

Dancing fans Charles Lordan and Coral Evans from Anchor’s Rose court care home have won a place in Anchor’s Strictly Dancing competition national grand final after beating rivals in a regional competition on Thursday 2 October.

Charles, 75, and carer Coral, 51, who have been dancing together regularly as part of the weekly activities at Rose Court in Rotherhithe, swept the other entrants aside to be crowned winners of the London and East final of Anchor’s Strictly Dancing Competition.

Crowds gathered at Denham Garden Village hall in Buckinghamshire to watch the fiercely fought competition to determine who would represent the region in the grand final at the Rivoli Ballroom in London on 16 October.

Charles said: “It was a lovely feeling dancing in front of all those people and fabulous to have won the regional final. I’ve been dancing all my life so it’s good that Anchor has given us all this opportunity to continue our hobby.”

Coral added: “I can’t believe it. We are so happy to have won. We’ve been practising for weeks but I was still nervous dancing in front of the audience and judges.”

All the dancers came under scrutiny from a panel of judges including Trevor West, who is London & East Regional Operations Director with Anchor.

Trevor said: “The judges were looking for the most creative dance skilfully performed by the competitors. The standards and enthusiasm were very high but Charles and Coral were heads above the rest.

“This was fun but there was a serious aspect to this competition – raising money for national charity Contact the Elderly which holds tea parties every month for the over 75s who live alone.

“Anchor’s residents are fortunate as they are surrounded by friends and caring staff but those living alone can suffer from depression and social isolation because they endure weeks without having the opportunity to speak to anyone.”

A raffle held at the event raised more than £100 for the Contact the Elderly which is based in central London.

Delighted Charles and Coral will now face the grand final judges who include former Come Dancing presenter Angela Rippon and Anchor’s Chief Executive Jane Ashcroft.

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