“Keep going and going and you will get there!” says Prince Michael of Kent Court resident and former Tiller Girl on Women’s History Month

Above: (Left) Resident Jean Bleasdale enjoying a gardening activity at Prince Michael of Kent Court, in Watford. (Right) Resident Jean Bleasdale worked as a professional dancer with the Tiller Girls.

A Watford care home resident and former Tiller Girl has shared her life experience to mark Women’s History Month. 90 year old Jean Bleasdale, a resident at Prince Michael of Kent Court, in Watford, was born on St Georges Day and grew up during the Second World War. During her long life, she has been a regional tennis champion, bowls club captain and enjoyed adventurous travels, but it was her dancing career that caught the most attention.

After passing near all her dancing exams, she started her professional life performing in pantomimes and shows with the likes of Max Bygraves and Edmundo Ros in the 1950s. She was called for an audition at the Adelphi Theatre, in London and became a member of the high-kicking dance group the Tiller Girls.

Jean performed the twice-nightly show ‘London Laughs’ with Vera Lynn, Tony Hancock and Jimmy Edwards. On one occasion, the group opened the second half of the Royal Command at the Coliseum and due to the time restraints, the girls’ coach had a police escort between theatres. Jean danced with the Tiller Girls for two years and she was then offered the chance to dance in the Folies Bergere in Paris, however, she decided to stay in London.

In 1954, during her time at the Adelphi, she met her husband, Keith, who was a trombone player. Reminiscing on her time as a dancer, Jean mentioned:

I loved my time performing; it was a fantastic time although it was really hard work! When doing a show, I would only have one night off a week!

Jean has lived at Prince Michael of Kent Court since 2020. Her self-taught sewing skills have helped many of the residents and staff with alterations for clothes, and she is always happy to pass on her gardening knowledge.

When asked if she had any advice for future generations, she said:

If you want to do something and have a dream, go for it, work hard and don’t stop at the first hurdle. Keep going and going, and you will get there!

Rosalie Courtney, Business Relationship Manager at Prince Michael of Kent Court said:

For our residents, living in our Home is just a small chapter in the story of their lives. Jean is just one of many incredible women that we have the pleasure to know, who has a fascinating and inspiring story to tell.

[Summary: A resident at Prince Michael of Kent Court, in Watford, and former Tiller Girl has shared her life experience to mark Women’s History Month.]