Northampton former Navy medic Jim is tap dancing his way to £1,000 for NHS

Jim Price has dusted off his dancing shoes during lockdown to try and raise money for Northampton's hospital
By Carly Roberts
Published 4th Jul 2020, 06:00 BST
Updated 7th Jul 2020, 14:34 BST
Eighty-six-year-old Jim is asking Northampton fundraisers to pledge some cash towards his campaign as he dusts off his shoes for the first time in years. Picture by Kirsty Edmonds.Eighty-six-year-old Jim is asking Northampton fundraisers to pledge some cash towards his campaign as he dusts off his shoes for the first time in years. Picture by Kirsty Edmonds.
Eighty-six-year-old Jim is asking Northampton fundraisers to pledge some cash towards his campaign as he dusts off his shoes for the first time in years. Picture by Kirsty Edmonds.

Former medical assistant in the Royal Navy, Jim Price, now of St Christopher's Retirement Village, is putting his best foot forward to raise £1,000 for Northamptonshire Health Charity.

The charity - which funds above and beyond what the NHS can afford for Northamptonshire hospitals - has seen £111,353 donated to them during lockdown, which Jim wants to top.

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On Friday, Jim arrived at Broadmead Community Church - where members helped to do his food shopping during lockdown - and launched his charity danceathon.

Jim danced at Broadmead Community Church on Friday where he's been a member for the past two years.Jim danced at Broadmead Community Church on Friday where he's been a member for the past two years.
Jim danced at Broadmead Community Church on Friday where he's been a member for the past two years.

The 86-year-old has pledged to tap dance for an entire month, once every day at his home, to a different song.

He said: "I have attended the hospital for various things over the last couple of years or so and I have always been greeted with kindness and politeness and they are very reassuring when you are uncomfortable.

"I thought about Colonel Tom and he's quite a bit older than me and I thought if he can do it then so can I. I've applied some WD40 to my knees...

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"I would say the NHS has been under tremendous pressure from Covid and they certainly need some financial backing really, rather more than what is provided by the government."

Jim's love for tap dancing started in the 1960s. After taking part in a charity concert at Overstone Village Hall 60 years ago he was asked to become a member of the Age Concern Entertainers.

Jim was soon entertaining all over the country - including Blackpool Tower Ballroom with one of Frank Sinatra's dancers - without having professional training.

He added: "I spent all of my working life in uniform, I started off in 1949 in the Royal Observer Corps then I went from there in the Navy and then in the police before having several security jobs.

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"It was only when I retired when I discovered I had these hidden abilities."

Jim shared his love for dancing with his late wife Edith, affectionately known as 'Dotty' who he met in The Royal Navy while he was working as a medical officer and she was a nurse.

Dotty asked Jim for a Jitterbug dance one evening and 60 years of marriage later the rest is history.

To donate to Jim's Just Giving page click here.

Related topics:NHSRoyal NavyNorthamptonNorthamptonshire Health CharityNorthamptonshire

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