TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular dance teacher who died aged 86.
Betty Chappelle died at her home at Cathill Hall, Hoylandswaine, on July 8 surrounded by her family.
An avid entertainer, Betty was born into a musical family as her dad, Matthew, played the piano for the silent movies at Penistone Cinema.
From a young age, Betty trained in acrobatics with the aim of becoming a trapeze artist, however once she began taking dance lessons from Sheffield-based teacher, Peggy Harrison, she decided that her career would lie in dance.
Betty opened her first dance school aged just 21 years old, which was located in the Scout Hut in Penistone. She then moved to her own premises on Shrewsbury Road, where her school still sits today.
As an honour after a long dance career, Betty was appointed a fellow and senior examiner of the International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA) and also sat on the organising committee of the Miss Dance of Great Britain competition.
Alongside running her dance school, Betty and her first husband Frank Mitchell also ran the Whiteheart pub in Penistone. With her second husband, Harry Taylor, she helped to run a hair salon and a day nursery with her daughters Sally, and Amanda. Her daughter Shani now runs Betty’s dance school.
Betty was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three years ago after Harry died and her daughters cared for her until her death.
Her funeral was held at Stottercliffe Cemetery, Penistone, on Wednesday and Betty is survived by her three daughters - Sally, Shani and Amanda, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A celebration of her life is due to be held once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
The family ask that any donations made in memory of Betty are made to the Alzheimer’s Society.
All enquiries to Dyson Funeral Service, Barnsley Road, Penistone, telephone 762481.
