Dancing on the Hoe

Al fresco dancing on the Hoe began during the first week of May 1941 and was a success from the beginning. The idea was first suggested by the Lord Mayor, Lord Astor. Lady Nancy Astor regularly took part and among her dancing partners was the Duke of Kent.It raised people's spirits and brought everyone together.

Noel Coward, who was a friend of the Astors, said at the time, 'After all that devastation, on a Summer evening, people were dancing on the Hoe. It made me cry - the bravery, the gallantry, the Englishness of it!' The dances continued for many years. A huge dance was held on the Hoe, at the end of the war, to celebrate VE Day. Lady Astor was born in America in 1879.She married Waldorf Astor in 1906 and they lived at 3 Elliot Terrace on the Hoe. She was the MP for Sutton from 1919 to 1945. During the Second World War, Lord and Lady Astor were the Mayor and Lady Mayor of Plymouth. Lady Astor was well known for her straight to the point way of talking. She had once said to Winston Churchill, ’If I was your wife I would give you poison!’ to which Churchill replied, ’If I was your husband, I’d drink it!’

Lady Astor died in 1964.