Fred Astaire (1899 – 1987) and Ginger Rogers (1911 – 1995) star in the comedy musical ‘Carefree’, directed by Mark Sandrich for RKO. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Hulton Archives via Getty ImagesClub X in Newark, England reopened after more than a decade last weekend, and a 95-year-old WWII Royal Air Force veteran was the first person to dance.
Still young at heart, WWII vet Kevin Topham took to the dancefloor to dance with his caregiver at the nightclub – 74 YEARS after meeting his wife there.
Not your grandfathers nightclub - but it didn't matter:
Kevin, a grandad-of-one, was adamant he wanted to go back to the club, because that's where he danced in the 1940s when it was called "The Corn Exchange." And it's where he met his late wife Molly in 1949 when it was a hotspot for servicemen to go dancing. It was at an RAF dance that he wooed Molly, and the couple went on to have happy married life and two children together.
Kevin heard the club was reopening, and asked his part-time caregiver Donna if she would take him there. Despite being warned there would be “booming music,” strobe lighting and it would be “full of 18-year-olds” Kevin didn't care.
How it went down:
Donna asked the club if they could come in for a dance, and the owner said yes - and gave the dancefloor to him and his "date," and gave him his choice of song. Kevin was the first person through the doors at 8 pm on a Saturday night (July 1) and danced to his request: Chattanooga Choo Choo by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Donna said: “It was just amazing, his face absolutely beamed." She said it melted her heart because it made him so happy. All of his memories came flooding back - she didn’t know that was where he’d met his wife.
When they got there he asked where the piano was - because when he used to go there was a live band. It was nothing like it was in 1949, but he was determined to be there. Donna said if she didn't take him he'd probably get in his car and just go.
Donna went to see the manager, and the manager said let's do this! Kevin’s daughter, Karen, said her dad had always loved dancing and found the whole event “quite emotional.” When he got there he couldn’t remember his favorite song at the time, so he settled for Chattanooga Choo Choo.
What's next?
“Everyone thinks nightclubs are for the younger generation but why not have older people there? The new owners clearly care for their community, and not just the young people but older members too.
The club has since said it was inspired by Kevin and is looking at introducing an over-60s event each month where they will play music from the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
Remember - you're never to old to dance. Just ask Kevin!
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