On a chilly November day in 2025, the grand Tower Ballroom in Blackpool echoed with familiar music and memories as Ron and Marilyn Hill, a couple whose love story was written in dance, took to the floor one last time. For decades, the pair had been regulars at this iconic venue, waltzing their way through life’s highs and lows. But this dance was different—it was a bittersweet farewell, arranged by their devoted granddaughter and made possible through the kindness of strangers, social media, and the enduring magic of music.
Ron Hill, 82, and his wife Marilyn, 80, have spent a lifetime together, their journey intertwined with the rhythm of the Tower Ballroom’s sprung floor. From the mid-1960s through to 1986, the couple made the ballroom their second home, often slipping in for a quick spin during breaks from their entertainment work at Blackpool’s Empire Hotel. As Marilyn fondly recalled, “We’ve always loved the Tower Ballroom, it’s the atmosphere and the look of it. It makes a difference when you have a proper dance floor!” (as reported by BBC).
But time, as it does, changed things. Ron, once a musician in Blackpool, now lives with Alzheimer’s disease and other health challenges. The couple, married for 62 years and now residing in Wantage, Oxfordshire, faced the difficult decision of moving Ron into a care home. For Marilyn, who originally hailed from Oldham, and for the entire family, the thought of leaving behind this chapter without a proper goodbye was heartbreaking.
Enter Olivia Watts, their 28-year-old granddaughter. Determined to give her grandparents a final dance in the ballroom they cherished, she turned to TikTok for help. Her heartfelt plea struck a chord online, quickly catching the attention of BBC Radio Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Ltd. What followed was a remarkable outpouring of support that brought the family’s wish to life.
“My heart feels so full right now, it’s really incredible,” Olivia said, her voice trembling with emotion as she watched her grandparents glide across the ballroom floor. The family—including Ron and Marilyn’s daughter Alex, son-in-law Neil Sykes, and cousin Bethany Carpenter—looked on, some in tears, as the couple moved with a grace that seemed untouched by time. “To be honest we were in bits, it was so moving to see my grandparents back on their favourite dancefloor one last time. Happily, they weren’t tearful, they were loving every minute of it. Grandad loved the attention, he was really in his element,” Olivia told local reporters.
The day was made even more special by the efforts of Kate Shane, managing director of Blackpool Tourism. Not only did she invite the Hills to dance in the ballroom, but she also arranged for the resident organist to accompany them on the venue’s legendary Wurlitzer organ. The sound of the organ filled the air as Ron and Marilyn held each other, moving as they had so many times before. “It’s exactly the same and it’s absolutely fabulous,” Marilyn said, beaming. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful ballroom. And this sprung floor is just fabulous.”
For Ron, the moment was almost surreal. “This is our place,” he declared, clearly moved by the experience. “My wife was a bit nervous to dance, but I pushed her around a bit,” he joked, his humor undimmed by the years. After their dance, Ron—who, due to his dementia, rarely plays piano at home anymore—was given the chance to sit at the Wurlitzer organ. With a smile, he played for the first time in years. “That really was something,” he said afterward. “I’m really honoured to sit at it, let alone play it.”
The emotional resonance of the day was felt not just by the Hills’ family, but by everyone involved. Kate Shane described the occasion as “special, really special. They are a beautiful couple with a beautiful family.” She reflected on the power of music and memory, noting, “As soon as the organ started to play, he started to dance. He took Marilyn to the floor and then he went and played [the organ]. It was still there, and that moment in here it came back. We should think about that for our friends and relatives, we just need to be making moments and celebrating people while we still have them.”
The Tower Ballroom, with its ornate ceilings and storied history, has been the backdrop for countless love stories, but few as poignant as this. The Hills’ connection to the venue is woven through decades of shared joy. They first met at a dance hall as teenagers, married young—Marilyn was just 18, Ron 20—and never stopped dancing. Their story is a testament to the enduring power of shared passions and the importance of honoring the past, even as the future brings difficult changes.
After their dance, the family stayed one more night in Blackpool at the grand Imperial Hotel, savoring the memories before returning to Oxfordshire. For Ron and Marilyn, the day was a celebration of love, family, and the small miracles that can still happen, even in the face of adversity. “It’s been a wonderful day, we have always loved dancing,” Ron said, his words capturing the simple joy that had brought everyone together.
As the sun set over Blackpool, the echoes of the Wurlitzer organ lingered in the air, a reminder that while time moves on, some moments are timeless. For the Hill family, and for those who witnessed their last dance, the day was a powerful affirmation of the importance of cherishing loved ones and creating memories—especially when tomorrow is uncertain.
It’s not every day that a plea on social media leads to a magical reunion on a famous dancefloor. But for Ron and Marilyn Hill, and for everyone touched by their story, the message is clear: sometimes, the most meaningful goodbyes are set to music, and love, like a favorite song, can bring us together one last time.
