Barbara, 105, recalls her teenage dancing days in Wakefield
Dancing at the Embassy Ballroom in Wakefield city centre as a teenager and walking home to Lupset is a happy memory for 105-year-old Barbara Sykes.
Barbara, who was born in Heckmondwike on October 4 1921, has been recalling her younger days after celebrating her latest milestone birthday.
She said: "When I was in my teens I went dancing three times a week at The Embassy in Wakefield and we walked home, we didn't get a taxi."
Barbara, of Darrington near Pontefract, said her father George was an "an officer and a gentleman" who served in the British Army during World War One.
He later worked at RS Dyson in Wakefield as a grocery clerk.
Barbara said: "We had a car, a Bullnose Morris. I think it belonged to RS Dyson, but father had to have it because he often had to go to York."
Barbara said the family moved to Wakefield when she was a child and lived in Lupset, Agbrigg and Sandal.
She went to school in Sandal, adding: "Eventually my parents decided that you give up things so your children can be educated.
"My brother was educated at Wakefield Grammar School and I was educated at Wakefield Girls High School. I made some good friends."
After leaving school Barbara worked as a secretary at Alfred Ellis and Sons in Wakefield.
She was married to the late Duncan Sykes for 17 years and the couple had three children.
Barbara, who is a grandmother and great grandmother, said she did voluntary work at a number of charity shops in Wakefield.