Jammy Douglas, alias Dancing Dave

LEEDS CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, my Alma Mata, was situated on Gt. George Street, next to Leeds College of Art. The Mecca Locano Dance Hall in Leeds was in the County Arcade, now part of The Victorian Quarter and a stones throw from school. It had a lunch time disco session, entrance a sixpence, the price of a bag of chips with a fishcake. Me and Jammy Douglas, would bunk out of school and jive the hour away. School cap and tie removed and hair duck tailed with Brylcream. Jammy was a superb dancer, taught by his big sister, a Ballroom Competitor. I took my steps from him, and became an expert in the 'Jive.' The trick was to step in on two girls dancing together. When the girl taking the girl part twirled around Jammy would catch her out held hand and I would step in and take her place. if we were lucky these two girls would be our partners for the whole session. No words were exchanged just dance steps. When the session was over we would return to school sweaty but ready for double Maths. Jammy eventually became known as Dancing Dave, among our set. Incidentally Jammy got his name, not from being lucky, although after his naming luck came his way, but from an English lesson in 2A. We were reading Prester John by John Buchan, and someone, was asked to read aloud a passage from it. In this passage was a character named Jamie Douglas, which he mis pronounced as Jammy. Henceforth Dave became Jammy.