Former students of a Romford dance school are having a reunion 37 years after it closed.

Bush Davies School of performing Arts was in Eastern Road from 1939 to 1974.

It closed after the lease ran out and was then.

In 1968 after the death of Marjorie Davies the running of the school was taken over by Joyce Percy and Daphne Peterson, who ran it until its closure.

People who attended the school want to pay tribute to the school and to the former teachers.

Former student Francesca Waite, 56, who has organised the reunion, said: “Bush Davies is very dear to my heart. It was a very special place and will never be forgotten by anyone associated with it.”

Mrs Waite, who grew up in Romford, but who now lives in Norwich, Norfolk, added: “It is not an easy task to organise as after 37 years with no student lists or contacts to refer to most contact has been made through social networking sites and word of mouth.”

The reunion group currently has people flying over from Italy and America.

They include people who attended the school during the 1940s through to those who were present at the time of its closure.

The reunion will be held on May 1, at the Performers College, Corringham, Essex, between 1.30pm and 5pm.

Places must be booked before the event by emailing Mrs Waite at jonandcesca@btinternet.com.

The school produced a host of famous dancers including retired ballerina and theatre dancer Doreen Wells; ballet dancer Stanley Holden; actress and singer Gemma Craven, ‘Allo ‘Allo actress Sue Hodge; and Carry On Emmannuelle actress Suzanne Danielle.