Dear Wally,

I met you on the occasion of my first resson in March lgi6, almost 35 years ago. I was27 yean old and that 2 hour resson in your front room on Brudeneil Road was the mostprofound expericnce in my dancing career. The exposure to your expressions such as:

"KNOWLEDGE IS CONFIDENCE - "BOY.

,A LOT OF WORLD CHAMPIONS HAVE BEEN CREATED IN THIS VERYROOM"

"IF YOU GO TO AI.IY OTHER TEACHERS, MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS ASK.WHY' AND IFTHEY DONT KNOW, DONT WASTEYOUR MONEY"

Fortunately I never did go to another "[atin" teacher - but the advice came in handy forthe Modern teachers. Knowing the thousands of couples and dancers you have trained inyour lifetime, many of them, wortd champions and the like, I am but a very smalr rink inthat vast chain. However, wally, I want you to know that I owe to you my humblecompetitive career which included a world professional Grand Final and champion ofmy great country, Australia.

As a teacher and coach I owe you totalry for giving me the benefit of your vast andcomplete knowledge and philosophy of Latin dancing, which has alowed me to spreadyour gospel for many long years to otheryounger dancers with great success and reward.Just this week two of my couples won 2 more United states championships to add to mylong list.

I want you to know the profound effect you have had ou my life and not one teaching daygoes by that your name is not mentioned. I know from observation you have shaped andhoned many skillful [:tin dancers and many of them have probably taken you forgranted, probably because they paid you money for the lessons.

Quote of [-a.ird to Rivers -

TlullB EXIERTEI.{CE"I have never known in what small category I fit in your thoughts:

STUDENT

PUPIL

ACQUAINTANCE

COLLEAGUE

MAYBE YOUR FRIEND

But be assured Mr. t aird, 'The Master", I am one of your greatest Disciples.

WALTER LAIRD151 Brudenell RoadLondon gWtT 8DF(TdlFzx: 02o8 672 EITB)

l{ononry ilcntbr World Donce & Oance Sport Councll(WD&DSC)f'lmomry llambe,: Britieh Oance Council (BDC)Reeitont Ballroom Dancers' Federatlon (BDF)

DbtinsuBnod SeMce Award-IDTA

D,err Rey,

- -* ^Std r pleannt aurprbc lt wm for me to recelve your letten dated11"'.$eptember. h rollty wrrmed thc cockleo of my heart Wtrnt a vruslth ofnccnlarlnr you hevc rilrung hgotror b ertculeb y.ut uoughtr, r*l;og*end mrmorlr of thr many trrppy hourr we rpent bgether 30 many yeeriego,

Yc, I rrmember tho*r dryt rrull, 6rat ambltour, confldent youngman from donrn+nder wlro arrtleo in Lonoon r€ady to take on tfrl world.Honuver, you FIg very difierrnt rn one twpe*t idr meny oivoutconbmporrrlec. You hed i gut Lrlltn util here was more to danclngthan shownrenship. vou wanud o ldm mmeilrrng ebout thore vitalingrcdlenb tlrrt rllouv denceru to crufr denclng oitrlgh qujfity.It b vrry *drfylng for mr b brrn rrom your letter tfiet after allthcc yei- you ire iutt-rning s. ptinort;-a Hught you to "r""Gchamplonr from somo of your curyury pirpih, FunlOament l p;iliplegnovtr chrngo. tf you.ttrrow T rpp! lntb dre rry n *irr sfill riturn to 6srth,in the rrme mrnn.r it wouH tnL donG ln ileifrir'a timal

n.etrd to thc rmt paragreph of your her , the categorrea inwtrich you fit tnto my thougtrb anr:-

Pupll: Coilcaguc: A grrt fan and a vcry loyel frlend.

.Thank yo'fior !""il,g the dcrre to re.d me ruch I trury;fil1ffiffS"llggt*Tgfgl 3;t;'[#,T*,.*- Lnri I ]'i"* ","*W?th my yllry brnl sgalt . to you and your hmlly

':-t/rut