The “amazing” life of a dance teacher who inspired thousands of youngsters across more than 50 years has been remembered following her sudden death, aged 88.

Jane Guy ran the Jane Guy School of Dance at the old bakehouse in Herne Bay from 1975, as well as teaching every Wednesday in Whitstable until she was 82, and at various schools across east Kent.

A fit and active woman even in her later years, her family say she was dancing until the day before she suffered a stroke at home at the end of March. She died five days later in hospital, on April 3.

Originally from Whitstable, Mrs Guy was born on December 31, 1934.

She married Freddy in 1957 at All Saints Church and they spent 65 years together, until his death six months prior to hers.

She was taught ballet by her cousin Muriel Hasland at Hasland School of Dance, and started teaching there herself in the mid-1960s.

When Swalecliffe Community Centre opened in 1974, she taught there every Wednesday afternoon.

The great-grandmother came back to Herne Bay when local teacher Beatrice Walker fell ill and she was asked to step in and help run her school.

When Ms Walker sadly died, Mrs Guy was offered the studio and set up the Jane Guy School of Dance.

She retired from the business, which is still running today, when she was 65 after running it for a quarter of a century.

Mrs Guy leaves her three children - Steven, Louise and Donna - eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Louise Lee told KentOnline: “There was just something about mum that made her a great teacher - she loved all her pupils.

“You would never know if she didn't like children or had favourites; she was always fair with everybody.

“She had a lot of kids who were overweight or too tall or didn't have a musical note in their soul, but she felt that everyone could enjoy and benefit from learning to dance.

“Her pupils loved her - they all wrote to her at Christmas. She always had loads of cards and letters.”

A “glamorous” woman, Mrs Guy is remembered for always having immaculate hair and make-up, and wearing clip-on earrings.

Her other daughter, Donna Radford, added: “She had a different set for every day of the week.”

As well as her style, Mrs Guy’s family say she was the type of person to “take everything in her stride”.

Ms Radford said: “She could take on a whole load of stuff and just get on with it - nothing fazed her.”

The teacher's whole life revolved around ballet, according to her loving daughters.

“It was just ballet, ballet, ballet.” explained Ms Radford.

“That was literally it - every day she would go down there for about 2.30pm because the first class started at 3pm, and she was there everyday except Sunday.”

As well as teaching at her own school, Mrs Guy also taught at home, the former Greston private school in Herne Bay, King's School in Canterbury and what was Whitstable Gymnastics Club.

An “incredible seamstress”, she made most of the costumes for her shows herself, as well as choreographing the dances.

Every year, she organised a big performance at The Kings Hall.

Her busy work did not stop in the holidays, as she ran a “hugely popular” summer school for her students, even after she retired from the studio.

The instructor was once enlisted by a local rugby team to help with the players' fitness - a story she loved to tell.

Mrs Guy’s husband, Freddy, was a keen roller hockey player, representing Herne Bay and England.

At their wedding, he had a broken leg from a sporting mishap, and can be seen propped up against his wife on one leg in the photos.

Ms Lee recalled: “They both had such big personalities.”

Towards the end of her life, Mrs Guy visited the local Age UK day centre.

Ms Radford said: “She was full of life all the time.”

Ms Lee added: “I was sure she would out-live me!”

Mrs Guy was a huge animal lover, and always had dogs, as well as tortoises.

A jet setter, she had close friends in Australia and Seattle, USA, who she travelled out to visit.

She also leaves her good friend from school, Audrey, who lives in Folkestone.

Mrs Guy’s funeral is at 2.30pm on Wednesday, May 17 at Thanet Crematorium.

All ex-pupils, friends and family are welcome, and are being asked for family flowers only, with cash donations on the day to Age UK Herne Bay.