Jill Robinson MBE: A Hunslet Legend Who Dances to Her Own Beat 🏆

Born in Hunslet, Jill Baldwinson’s journey began at 5 years old when she joined the Edna Curby Dance School, quickly making a name for herself by winning the All-England Baby Tap Competition in her first year! 💃✨

By 16, Jill was already a professional dancer, lighting up the stage at the Leeds Empire Theatre in pantomime. She also became a star in the world-famous Tiller Girls, a troupe of precision dancers who wowed audiences with their high-kicking routines. The Tiller Girls, known for their synchronization and athleticism, were a defining part of Jill’s glittering early career. 🌟

Jill also dazzled as a magician’s assistant on TV, winning the British Ring Shield from The Magic Circle 🎩✨. By the 1960s, she and her dance partner June were wowing crowds at clubs across Leeds and Wakefield with their double-act. 🎶

As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Jill was also a beauty queen, winning Miss Hunslet Rugby League Queen for three years running (1964-66) and Miss Yorkshire Rugby League. And yes, she got to sit in the Royal Box at the legendary 1966 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley! 🏉👑

Jill’s biggest impact came off the stage. Her charity work began when a local church group asked for her help with a fundraiser. This led to the creation of Showstoppers, a group Jill ran for 30 years. Through her choreography and dedication, Showstoppers raised thousands of pounds for causes like Multiple Sclerosis, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and much more. 🐾💖 For her incredible contributions, Jill was awarded the MBE in 1996.

Jill’s passion hasn’t slowed down! To this day, she’s still a fierce advocate for Hunslet Rugby League & animal protection. 🏉

A true powerhouse from Hunslet, Jill Robinson’s legacy continues to inspire and uplift. 🙌💫 #StrongWomen #Hunslet #JillRobinson #Inspiration #CharityQueen #InternationalWomensDay

Ivy Benson: The Queen of Swing 🎷🎶

Raised in Holbeck, Ivy Benson’s musical journey was written in the stars. Her dad played the trombone in orchestras, sparking Ivy’s passion for music. But she wasn’t destined for classical — Ivy found her groove in the world of swing, jazz, and the big band sound. 🎺🎷

At just 15 years old, Ivy joined Edna Croudson’s Rhythm Girls, a 6-piece band that set the stage for her future. Her talent was undeniable, and soon she was a soloist with Teddy Joyce and the Girlfriends band, dazzling audiences across the country. 🌟

By the late 1930s, Ivy took the reins, forming her own 20-piece all-female band & in 1943, she made history as the leader of the first women-led resident BBC Dance Band, based in Bristol. 👏 And in 1944, her band played to packed crowds during a 6-month engagement at The London Palladium. 🎭

Ivy and her band didn’t stop there — in 1945, they performed at the Victory in Europe celebrations in Berlin, and in 1948, they played at the Summer Olympics in London.🏅

The band’s influence continued to spread worldwide, as Ivy’s swing dance music charmed audiences everywhere. Their final performance? A grand celebration of Ivy’s 70th birthday, broadcast live on BBC TV. 🎤🎉

Ivy Benson retired to Clacton-on-Sea and passed away in 1993, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians and fans alike. 🎶👑

#StrongWomen #Hunslet #IvyBenson #QueenOfSwing #FemalePioneer #MusicHistory #Inspiration #InternationalWomensDay

Leonora Cohen: A Fearless Force for Change 🗣️💥

Born in Hunslet in 1873, Leonora Cohen’s life was one of bold action and relentless determination. After losing her father at just 5 years old, Leonora’s mother raised three children on her own. Despite these early hardships, Leonora’s path would lead her to become a trailblazer for women’s rights. 💪

In 1891, Leonora embraced a vegetarian lifestyle, but it was her fierce belief in women’s suffrage that would define her legacy. In 1909, she joined the Leeds Women’s Social and Political Union, fighting for women to have a voice. She even became a bodyguard for Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, the founder of the suffragette movement. 🚺✊

When the 1911 Reform Bill ignored women’s right to vote, Leonora turned militant. She joined the WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union) and, alongside fellow suffragettes, smashed windows of government offices in London, landing her in Holloway Jail. 🔨

In 1913, frustrated by the lack of progress, she threw an iron bar at the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London with a bold protest note: “Deeds Not Words.” Though arrested, she walked free on a technicality. 🏛️

Later that year, Leonora was arrested again for carrying a stone intended for a government target. In Armley Jail, she went on a hunger strike — her activism strong as ever — and was released early under the Cat and Mouse act. 🍽️✊

During World War I, Leonora put aside her suffragette actions to work in a munitions factory. But post-war, she continued to rise — becoming the first woman president of the Yorkshire Federation of Trades Councils in 1923, a Magistrate, and even standing for Parliament as a Labour MP. 🏛️💼

Leonora Cohen passed away in 1978 in Wales, having fought tirelessly for justice and equality. Her story is one of resilience, defiance, and unshakable belief in the power of change. 👏💫

#StrongWomen #Hunslet  #LeonoraCohen #Suffragette #WomensRights #WomenInHistory #HunsletHero #Inspiration #InternationalWomensDay

Beryl Burton: The Queen of the Road 🚴‍♀️👑

Beryl Burton was a name that struck fear into competitors and inspired legions of fans. Born in 1937, Beryl went on to become one of the greatest cyclists the world has ever seen, all while balancing family life. 🏆👩‍👧‍👦

Beryl took up cycling at the age of 22 and quickly proved her natural talent, dominating the British cycling scene. Over the next 10 years, she set 60 British records and captured 12 national championships. 🚴‍♀️🔥

In 1967, she set a world record for the 12-hour time trial, covering 277.25 miles in a single day! That same year, she became the World Road Race Champion, a title she would go on to defend in 1968. 🌍💨

But Beryl wasn’t content with just being a world champion. She proved her dominance in all types of cycling events, from time trials to road racing, winning a staggering 5 World Championships and a jaw-dropping 70 national titles across her career. 🥇🌟

Known for her fierce training regime and no-nonsense attitude, Beryl faced her share of challenges – especially being a woman in a male-dominated sport. But nothing stopped her, she often beat the men in races too, including once beating the male national champion by two minutes. 💪✨

Even after retirement, Beryl remained involved in cycling, inspiring generations of athletes to come. She passed away in 1996, but her legacy lives on. To this day, her records and achievements stand as a testament to her strength, grit, and passion for the sport. 🌟🚴‍♀️

#StrongWomen #BerylBurton #CyclingLegend #WomenInSport #SouthLeedsHero #Trailblazer #Inspiration #InternationalWomensDay