Loved and missed

I want to say something about Lee Wright. When I discovered that Lee had died suddenly in a car crash in Spain on Sunday morning, I cried. I cried a river that day. I cried for Lee Wright who I had met on many occasions – as a pupil in the wonderful classes by himself and his glorious dance partner Shelley, as a spectator at one of their vibrant, energetic and glitzy shows, as an interviewer – which I always looked forward to, and as a social dancer. He was someone I would encounter sporadically and briefly, like many of us, but nevertheless, I cried I river when I found he had died. And I am not alone. Other people have told me the same thing about their own reactions to the news.

 

He was real joy to be around and just full of life. He had the ability to make you feel good in a world where plenty will make you feel bad – I read something written on the message board of a local Croydon paper after news

piece on the accident; it said he had the ability to mentally tickle the people around him, and sometimes physically, too…..what a wonderful gift – to make people smile when they think of how you make them feel.

He was so talented and so full of potential, I cannot begin to imagine how his mother, Shelley, his loved ones and close friends are coping with this tragedy. No words can make it better. But for the moment words are all we have. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Lee Wright, and I feel lucky to have met him.

 

On Saturday 15 th November, Frank and Natalie will be bringing their new group Yemeya to Marconi in Chelmsford , and there will be a one minute's silence in tribute to Lee.

Last month we were treated to a fantastic, well structured class and a great show by Miguel and Mayana. As usual, I grabbed the pair for a chat, which you can see in next month's column, along with a chat with Frank and Natalie.

 

Catch up with you in the next column when I'll tell you all about Dancing in Need for Children in Need.

 

Copyright Chris Penhall 2008

 

www.chrispenhall.co.uk

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