Littlehampton dance group hailed by distant admirers

The Traditional Cultural Madeira’s Dancing and Singing Group has been commended by a top government official, from the club’s island home of Madeira.

Arun’s new chairman, Ann Smee, broke the news to the dancers this week, after she returned from an unofficial trip to the Madeiran government’s department for culture, tourism and transport – a trip that stemmed from her guest appearance at the group’s first anniversary, in April.

During her visit to the government department, Ann met the minister for tourism and transport Conceicao Estudante, who was full of praise and admiration for the work that the club’s chairman, Maria Moniz, had done for the community.

Ann said: “What an honour to be able to bring back to Littlehampton such high praise for one of our local community groups, and from such a high-ranking government department.

“Maria has made an enormous impact, not only with her local community in Littlehampton, but by her outstanding example of drawing her community together, and for this to be recognised by the Madeiran government is good news for her, for Littlehampton and for Arun district, as well.”

The Madeira dance group has about 1,000 members, from across the Littlehampton area.