The Legacy of Irene Lawson. A Life of Dance, Charity and Community

More than two decades after her passing, the remarkable life of Withernsea dance tutor and community fundraiser Irene Lawson is being celebrated once again. Through the Withernsea Riff-Raff archive, her story, her work and her influence on generations of local families are being preserved for the future.

Irene Lawson devoted her life to teaching dance, inspiring hundreds of young people across Withernsea and raising significant funds for local charities along the way. Now her story has been added to the growing Withernsea Riff-Raff collection, which preserves and shares the town’s past through historic photographs, postcards and personal archives contributed by local residents.

Irene passed away in 1999 at the age of 88, but her influence is still remembered across the town today. Former pupils, families and community groups continue to share stories about the woman whose dedication shaped generations.

The Early Years of a Lifelong Passion

Irene was born Edith Irene Lawson in 1910. Her passion for dance began early, taking to the stage at the age of just 15. By her early twenties she had begun shifting her focus from performing to teaching, starting small classes in her mother’s front room in Arthur Street.

That modest space quickly became her first studio. Walls were knocked through, rooms reshaped and a dedicated teaching area created. What began as a small local class would grow into a lifelong vocation.

In 1930 Irene married Fred Sindall and moved to Hull Road, where she continued teaching dance from home while raising her son, Ivan.

By 1933 the studio had formally become the Reldene School of Dance. The unusual name came from rearranging the letters of the Hull sweet factory Needlers, where Irene had once worked.

A House Filled With Dancing

Irene’s son Ivan remembers a childhood where dance lessons were simply part of everyday life.

“From my earliest memories, there were always dancing lessons taking place in the house. It was just how life was.”

The family later moved to Queen Street, where Irene continued teaching. Many former pupils still remember the long studio room with its bars along the walls, polished floors and the quiet sense of discipline and purpose that filled the space.

Eventually the studio moved again to Bannister Street, where Irene continued teaching for many years. Students were entered into examinations with the Royal Academy of Dance, with examiners travelling from London to assess the young dancers.

A Life Dedicated to Teaching

Irene’s dedication to dance education extended far beyond the classroom. Her schedule was famously relentless. She would teach children during the day, run keep-fit sessions, and then travel to teach adult evening classes through further education programmes.

Even well into later life she maintained this demanding routine. For someone in their seventies and eighties, it was a remarkable level of commitment.

Much of the music for her classes came from local pianists who accompanied the lessons. Irene’s sister, Lillian, affectionately known as “Auntie Lily”, was among her earliest accompanists and played an important role in the school’s early years.

The Rose Queen Festival and Carnival Shows

Irene’s impact on Withernsea extended well beyond the dance studio. She played a major role in the town’s Carnival celebrations, organising floats, choreographing performances and staging community productions.

In 1933 she founded the Rose Queen Festival, an event that became a cherished local tradition for more than sixty years. The celebration showcased the grace and talent of young women from the Reldene School of Dance and often attracted crowds of up to 700 people.

The event was held in various locations across the town, including the Grand Pavilion site, Valley Gardens and the grounds near the convalescent home.

Beyond the spectacle, the festival had an important purpose. It raised funds for local charities, hospitals and community causes. Between 1933 and 1950 alone, Irene raised more than £1,000 for charity. The equivalent of nearly £100,000 today.

Every penny was donated.

Recognition for a Lifetime of Service

Irene’s work did not go unnoticed. In 1992 she was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in recognition of her decades of service to the community.

The nomination was championed by her friend Kath Jones, who gathered testimonials and evidence highlighting the scale of Irene’s contribution to the town. Today the medal is displayed in the Withernsea Lighthouse Museum.

A Celebration of Her Life

When Irene retired in 1996, former pupils travelled from across the country to attend a special celebration. Many performed the same routines she had taught them as children, a touching tribute to the teacher who had shaped their early lives.

Ivan remembers his mother as someone who was both gentle and determined.

“She was incredibly patient and caring, but also very tenacious. If something needed to be done, she would simply say, ‘No, we are going to do this.’ It was a quiet determination focused on helping the community.”

He is also quick to recognise the many people who helped Irene along the way. Pianists, dressmakers, backstage helpers and volunteers who worked behind the scenes to make productions and performances possible.

“Her legacy was only possible because of that community,” he said.

Remembering Irene Through the Riff-Raff Archive

Irene’s story has now been researched and documented as part of the Withernsea Riff-Raff archive by photographer and local historian Darrin Stevens.

Drawing on archived folders compiled by Kath Speck and historic photographs borrowed from the Withernsea Lighthouse collection, Darrin has been able to piece together the remarkable life of a woman whose influence still echoes through the town.

Darrin hopes that Irene’s contribution will be further recognised in the future, potentially with a blue plaque marking her place in the town’s history.

“Every woman in Withernsea knows who she is. If you grew up here, you know the name Irene Lawson. Her legacy is woven into the lives of generations in this community.”

Corrections and Clarifications

During ongoing archive research following the original newspaper feature, several important corrections came to light:

• Irene was born Edith Irene Lawson, not Sindall.
• The archive folders referenced in the research were compiled by Kath Speck, not Kath Jones.
• The photograph of the child referenced in the original feature showed Linda Hill, not Irene.
• The nomination for Irene’s British Empire Medal was championed by Kath Jones, mother of the current Withernsea Lighthouse manager Lindsey.

These corrections help ensure Irene’s story is preserved as accurately as possible as the Riff-Raff archive continues to grow.