Tributes to dance hero who inspired the stars

May 5 2009 by Laura Caroe, The Journal

THE family of a professional ballroom dancer who transformed the way football legends played have paid tribute to a ‘talented man’.

Great-grandfather-of-seven Lennie Heppell, who helped stars including World Cup winning skipper Bobby Moore and worked with managers including Kevin Keegan and David Pleat, died on Saturday, aged 89.

The well-known father-of-two, who was born in Colchester but moved up to Hexham, Northumberland, started off life down the pits at Acomb before meeting his beloved wife Molly at church in Hexham.

Newcastle United Fairs Cup winner Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson, who married Lennie’s daughter Maureen, 59, said Lennie was very popular in the area.

The 63-year-old said: “Lennie was well known in his own right for his coaching. He first started with me in the football world.

“He coached both his sister Philomena and his daughter Maureen who both became champions in table tennis.

“I first met him at table tennis and he said he could improve my balance. I worked with Lennie and then I scored 30 goals and Newcastle won the Fairs Cup, which is virtually unheard of. He was very good at upper body movement and strength and it really helped me to get the right balance.”

Lennie and his wife Molly, 81, championed ballroom dancing, winning countless trophies.

They were also invited to dance on TV’s hugely popular pop show The Six Five Special. The couple opened the first nightclub in the North East called the Fandango.