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The PLAZA BALLROOM - which opened in 1935 above the Sanderson and Holmes Garage on London Road - became a veritable Derby institution. And a useful one too, for by the time it closed in 1957, Derby's most celebrated dancehall had already been described in the Derby Evening Telegraph as 'the place that launched a thousand courtships'.

It was officially opened on Monday 1 April 1935 - but the man responsible for providing the facility was certainly no fool, either in April or any other month.

He was SAM RAMSDEN, who from the 1930s right up to the swinging sixties was one of the best-known figures in Derby, with an ebullient and larger-than-life personality that couldn't be ignored. Some liked him, others didn't, but almost everybody in the town knew of Sammy Ramsden.

Sam Ramsden was not a native Derbeian - he was born in Harwood, near Bolton, Lancashire, in 1886 - but after he arrived in Derby in 1928 he stayed for almost forty years, before retiring to the Lancashire coast in 1964, where he died four years later at the age of 82.

Sam Ramsden

The Plaza was much more than a 'local' dancehall. In fact it garnered a national reputation, playing host to all the top dance bands, jazz musicians, and the best-known singers.

And dancing was expected to be taken seriously - even though the place was full of lively youngsters out for a good time, the Plaza was no place for messing around. In October 2007 a 79-year-old lady from Littleover wrote these brief memories of going there in the 1940s:

'Dancing shoes were compulsory. Once up the stairs you left your ordinary shoes in the cloakroom and changed into your dancing shoes - it was to protect the floor. I still remember the excitement of climbing those stairs now - dancing seemed so glamorous back then.

Alcohol wasn't allowed when I remember it - only soft drinks and refreshments on the balcony. And Sam Ramsden was very welcoming but also very strict - he would patrol the floor dressed in a smart grey suit, a carnation in his buttonhole, and firmly requested anyone to leave if they started the least hint of trouble. There were no bouncers at the doors then - with Sam around they weren't needed.

And the Plaza regulars respected the rules - it was always a very pleasant night out which gave everybody a real buzz. I saw all the top bands and jazz musicians there. I remember the thrill of it all even now, and that's sixty years later.'

Nor did Sam Ramsden rest on his laurels. On 27 November 1953 he opened another dancehall - the Trocadero Ballroom - in the premises of the former Alex cinema on the corner of Normanton Road and Hartington Street.

It was a shrewd move, for Sam had sensed that times were changing, as the more sedate atmosphere of the Plaza began in the 50s to appear a little old-fashioned. The 'Troc' soon became the place to go, and the Plaza closed its doors for the last time on 2 February 1957.

It was the end of an era - but the 22 memorable years that the Plaza had been open would not quickly be forgotten. Although the Plaza regulars are now a dwindling breed, Derby's most famous dancehall is stall talked of to this day.

As for Sam Ramsden, he continued to move on. Sensing again that times and tastes were changing, he sold the Trocadero in 1964 and retired a wealthy man to a bungalow in Blackpool. It was a late age at which to retire - 78 - but even then he had time enough left to establish himself as a character in a town where big personalities had to be even bigger to make an impact. That presented no barrier to Sam - during the celebrated annual illuminations, he had his bungalow so lavishly lit-up that it could be seen from a considerable distance - even as he entered his eighties, a flair for 'showbiz' and a sense of fun were still with him.

But there must always be a last tune of the night. Towards the end of July 1968, after a short illness, Sam Ramsden died quietly at home, aged 82.

In response to the above article, registered site user Aitch offers his own memories:

Sam Ramsden was one in a million, I was one of the regulars at the Trocedero, once Sammy had opened it as a roller rink. His Daughter was a keen skater and I think it was her influence that got the rink opened, there is a picture of Sam's Daughter on the Derby Roller club topic, she was a member of the roller club as was I and we travelled to rinks all over Britain, the Troc was a very popular place, I and many others spent most of our leisure time there in the 1950's and early 60's, a great place and some great memories.

• Plaza Ballroom - A Derby Legend

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County:  Derbyshire

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