By Jill Bicknell (then aged 14)

A new notice appeared on the Grammar school notice board, calling for young ladies who wish to enhance health, beauty, grace, and body harmony while enjoying exercise to music.

This created great interest. My friends and I, after parental permission, decided to give it a go. So, on the following Thursday after school we rushed out to catch the tram, taking us along Karangahape Road and down to the bottom of Queen Street.

When we arrived at the Queen’s Arcade we were surprised to see girls from other colleges, all giggling and excited just like us.

I remember the noise echoing throughout the arcade and we must have been heard up on the first floor where Miss Ward, plus another teacher and piano player were waiting to receive us.

While some of us crammed into the old elevator the others scrambled up the stairs still chattering excitedly and giggling – surely these three ladies must have braced themselves “here they come!” – there were at least 20 of us!

After introductions, the ladies showed us the large hall where there were enormous windows overlooking Customs Street, an upright piano completed the scene.

We were shown the small changing room which we all somehow fitted in and we changed quickly into our regulation school blouses and black rompers! Some more giggling!

This was a new experience for us girls, as it must have been for the patient teachers, who soon calmed us down. We enjoyed learning to march elegantly to the piano music, leaping about and being called “young ladies.”

As for me, I completed the year, but school and gaining qualifications became a priority.

I never forgot those wonderful patient teachers and the time I spent there and 50 years later I returned to The Fitness League and I enjoy it just as much – the friendship and giggles continue to this day!