A DARLINGTON dancing queen who won a host of national competitions with her husband has died aged 80.

Steve and Kathy Wright travelled the world taking part in dance competitions and won every British title going when they were at their peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In recent months Mrs Wright’s health deteriorated but she did not want to go to hospital and died peacefully at her home in Woodland Road on October 23 with her husband beside her.

Mr Wright, who met Darlington-born Kathy while completing National Service, at Catterick, described her as the love of his life.

“It was love at first sight,” he said.

“I met her at a dance when I was 21 and not long after that we were married.

“Dancing was our life.”

Mr and Mrs Wright were stars on the ballroom dance circuit, winning a host of titles and becoming the three times undefeated winners of the British Open Senior Championship.

They retired from professional dancing when in their early 40s but continued to waltz for fun; setting up popular dances at the Dolphin Centre in the 1980s which later moved to the community centre on Bowen Road.

Mrs Wright’s funeral is will take place tomorrow (October 31) at Darlington Crematorium.