STEPPING OUT ...AND BACK IN TIME

Back in nineteen seventy-something, Lucy came to Redroofs as a nine-year-old pupil. Highly talented, committed and a true triple threat, she stayed with us until she was 17.

I have the clearest memories of Lucy in my dance classes, taking her through all her tap grades to professional level. She was gifted and resilient, and while she was with us she was a regular in West End shows, on tours and on TV. She remained a great friend to us all after she left, and we were proud not only of her success but of the kind and genuine person she was.

When she heard about the tragic death of my daughter Rosie and the birth of Rosie's Rainbow Fund, she wanted to do all she could to help, and became a patron of the charity.

Lucy went above and beyond. As she became a household name as Lisa in EastEnders, she appeared on several TV game shows, and each time she nominated Rosie's Rainbow Fund to receive her winnings. This led to her WINNING ITV's X Factor: Battle of the Stars and donating her £137,000 prize to the charity. You can read all about it in my memoir The Future is Rosie.

And when her second baby daughter was born, she named her Rosie, after my Rosie! She hosted

my book launch this June -conga ing round the stage as we introduced Rosie's Rainbow Conga to the world.

So… Sam and I went to Bromley yesterday to watch her starring in the final week of Stepping Out.

A show about teaching tap dancing, it was a special and proud one for me. Watching her tapping was déjà vu, as I was catapulted back to the seventies, eighties and onwards: time stepping and wings through her childhood and way beyond.

Mainly, though, it was about being there and showing up, just as she has continued to be there and show up for me through thick and thin. And I think that's what lasting friendship is. It's about late-night chats when things aren't going so well, and great big pats on the back when they are, but mostly it's just about showing up.

Love you and so proud of you, Luce!!!