RHODA Francis, "the little lady born to dance", died within weeks of being diagnosed with cancer.

Rhoda, 80, who taught ballroom for more than 60 years, died at Wisdom Hospice, Rochester.

She will be sadly missed by friends at Sheerness East Club classes.

She and her late husband, Peter Baird, won scores of trophies in their dancing career, and she continued to teach after his death.

Proud of her roots, with the Blue Town Remembered group Rhoda gave talks on memories passed on by her grandmother and of her work sewing naval uniforms in the war.

Lively and intelligent, Rhoda was the mother of five, and a proud grandmother and great-grandmother.

For many years she lived in Kent Avenue, Sheerness, but moved to Salmon Crescent, Minster. She re-married in 1999, and partner John Francis shared her passion for dance.

The ceremony was at Broadway Methodist Church, where Rhoda regularly took part in services, the Prayer and Care group, and was a fund-raiser.

Earlier this year she returned to South Wales to re-live happy times spent in Bargoed and Caerphilly as an evacuee, where she learned to dance.

Rhoda accepted the news of her cancer and asked only to enjoy one last Christmas.

The family were with her on Christmas Day, and John was with her when she died on Boxing Day.

The funeral is on Wednesday, January 9, at The Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing, preceded by a service at Broadway Methodist Church at 11am.