Errol John Pickford

Errol John Pickford (1 Sep 1966 - 14 Jun 2018)

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Location
Edgbaston Old Church Edgbaston B15 3TA
Date
11th Jul 2018
Time
12.30pm
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Errol was born in Perth, Australia, and trained as a gymnast. After moving to England, he trained in ballet at the Hammond School, winning the Paul Clarke Memorial Scholarship and the Phyllis Bedells Award, and at the Royal Ballet School where he gained his Solo Seal and won the Adeline Genée Competition.

He danced with The Royal Ballet, becoming a celebrated Principal dancer, working with and creating roles in ballets by Kenneth MacMillan, Frederick Ashton and David Bintley, amongst others. Whilst there, he danced alongside Rudolf Nureyev at the Margot Fonteyn Gala, in a version of the Mandolin Dance from Romeo and Juliet, specially created for him by Kenneth MacMillan. He also won the first-ever Erik Bruhn Competition in Canada, and he created history when he was the first Western dancer to partner Bolshoi ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, on the stage at Covent Garden for the Armenia Gala, in a performance that was broadcast live on national television.

Errol left The Royal Ballet in 1997 and became a Principal dancer with Western Australian Ballet. After retiring from dance performance, he passed his RAD Professional Dancers' Teaching Diploma with distinction. He taught at the London Studio Centre, the Arts Educational School in Tring and Bird College, He was Ballet Master and School Director for K Ballet in Japan for four years and was a guest teacher with Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Rambert, Adventures in Motion Pictures and English National Ballet.

Errol joined Elmhurst Ballet School in 2008. He is Graduate Teacher and responsible for student employment. He was instrumental in creating the Outreach and Community work at the school and worked tirelessly to introduce the benefits of our art form to individuals who otherwise may not have been given the opportunity.

Jo Croydon-Foster wrote

Sending much love to Olivia and Polly. Sleep well Errol. X

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Julie Dexter lit a candle
Sarah Drew lit a candle
Sarah Drew wrote

Errol was an incredible teacher,mentor and friend to so many young people. He played a huge role in instilling in my son Alex the belief that he could achieve and become the dancer he dreamed of being. For this I will always be grateful.
Errol has left a huge legacy through those young people who have had the privilege to be taught by him, and for that we can all be grateful. I am very sorry I couldn’t be there today, but send all my love to you Olivia and Polly x

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Rachel Hifle wrote

I just can’t put my feelings into words. Today at the church Pollyanna spotted me and her face lit up giving me the biggest wave and smile. She is so brave ! I am privileged to have taught her. If all families were like yours I would be the happiest of teachers! Miss you 😘. Much love Rachel Hifle

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Kay and david Wraith lit a candle
Kay and david Wraith wrote

Bless you Errol, I loved your classes at Bank Mill you never cared how old we were. I just wanted to dance my very best. You were a legend

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Catherine Parr is attending the funeral
Chris Langford wrote

Have been thinking of you such lot at this very sad time. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you today.
Love to Olivia and Polly from Chris Glenn and Gabriella 💙🌹💙

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Renata Ratajova lit a candle
Anita and Tony Davies Hinds lit a candle
Rose Gurney lit a candle
Sally Gurney lit a candle
Rose & Sally Gurney is attending the funeral
Jackie and Olivia Parham lit a candle
Neil Pountney is attending the funeral
Rachel Hickey wrote

I will never forget the fond memories I have of you. You started as my teacher and turned into a friend for life. You never ever called me by my first name in the whole time I knew you, always Hick or Hickster. I miss you so much. It breaks my heart that I can’t make the funeral tomorrow, but I’ll light a candle in Japan, a country you loved, making this trip is extra special to me. My heart goes out to Olivia and Polly.
All my love,
Hick x

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Rachel Hickey lit a candle
Janine & Amber Cook is attending the funeral
Louise Barnes is attending the funeral
Bev and Lydia Freer is attending the funeral
Rachel Rist wrote

Errol met Olivia whilst they were both teaching here at Tring Park and it was fun to watch the staff room romance turn into a happily married couple. They both lived with me at my home whilst they began looking to make a home of their own. Errol was full of fun and clearly devoted to Olivia, (whom I have known since she was 11 and a pupil at Tring) right from the beginning. We cannot get to the funeral tomorrow, but will be thinking of Errol and particularly of Olivia and Polly as they come to terms with the loss of a dear man.

Fondest love,
Rachel x

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Laura May Houghton is attending the funeral
Annie Routley wrote

I only met dear Errol three times as a Friend of Elmhurst, but l loved his warmth and generosity of spirit, his energy and flair as a dancer, and his love for you - Olivia, Polly and Shaun. It was Errol who helped me realise my childhood dream when he encouraged Shaun to dance a very simple pas de deux with me - an Adult Beginner - to celebrate my 60th birthday last year. I am so very sorry for your loss and aching sadness. You are all in my prayers.

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Annie Routley is attending the funeral and the reception
Josh Woodhams is attending the funeral and the reception
Heather Grose lit a candle
Heather Grose wrote

Darling Olivia. My heart goes out to you and Polly. I remember the suppers we had with you, and Errol and 'Sir'. The giggling over the tissue incident, and I cannot believe your lovely man has gone..my love to you as always.
Heather xx

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Matt Grose wrote

Moments. Laughter. Chuckling, boyish, mischiveous laughter.
Moments. He reached out and was kind.

I wanted to be in his gang, it looked like fun.

Always love.
Matt n Pip

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Matt Grose lit a candle
Errol John Pickford A trip to Tokyo Disneyland in 1987 whilst on tour with the Royal Ballet. Dear Errol a gentle soul and a dancer of great talent. I wish your family and friends strength at this sad time.

A trip to Tokyo Disneyland in 1987 whilst on tour with the Royal Ballet. Dear Errol a gentle soul and a dancer of great talent. I wish your family and friends strength at this sad time.

Errol Pickford at the Elmhurst School for Dance celebration for the Graduates of 2012, with his students, my son, Miles Gilliver (Birmingham Royal Ballet) & Adam Harris (Croatian National Theatre) Thank you Errol, you taught them well! xx

Errol Pickford at the Elmhurst School for Dance celebration for the Graduates of 2012, with his students, my son, Miles Gilliver (Birmingham Royal Ballet) & Adam Harris (Croatian National Theatre) Thank you Errol, you taught them well! xx

So very sorry that Errol was taken so soon Admired by so many and completely captivated my daughter Rosanna during every class will miss you loads our thoughts and love are with Olivia and Polly xxx

So very sorry that Errol was taken so soon Admired by so many and completely captivated my daughter Rosanna during every class will miss you loads our thoughts and love are with Olivia and Polly xxx

This is a lovely photo of our daughter Brooke at MBS with Errol in April. Brooke was lucky enough to have classes with him and loved every minute! Wonderfully inspiring teacher who will be greatly missed by many. Our thoughts are with Olivia and Polly x

This is a lovely photo of our daughter Brooke at MBS with Errol in April. Brooke was lucky enough to have classes with him and loved every minute! Wonderfully inspiring teacher who will be greatly missed by many. Our thoughts are with Olivia and Polly x