On This Day 27 July 1932 Bobbie Irvine was born. With husband Billy Irvine the couple lived in Abbotswood Road and owned the Starlight dance studio which still exists in Streatham
The young Bobbie Barwell was spotted by Bill Irvine, a competitive dancer from a Scottish mining family from Low Craigends in Kilsyth. He brought her to Britain from South Africa and together they dominated the dance scene for the second half of the 20th century, first in competitions and then in teaching and adjudicating from their school at the "world famous" Starlight in Streatham.
Winning 13 world titles between 1960 and 1968, Bobbie transcended the decline of ballroom dancing in Britain
(The Times Obituary)
Commemorative plaque on Tooting Bec Common
The young Bobbie Barwell was spotted by Bill Irvine, a competitive dancer from a Scottish mining family from Low Craigends in Kilsyth. He brought her to Britain from South Africa and together they dominated the dance scene for the second half of the 20th century, first in competitions and then in teaching and adjudicating from their school at the "world famous" Starlight in Streatham.
Winning 13 world titles between 1960 and 1968, Bobbie transcended the decline of ballroom dancing in Britain
(The Times Obituary)
Commemorative plaque on Tooting Bec Common
