Tributes paid to Bury St Edmunds ballerina, Annette Page. “She was one of the best”.

Annette was a principal ballerina with the Royal Ballet (Image: Archant)

Tributes have been paid to former Royal Ballet ballerina who died on Monday (DEC 4) after a ‘brief but cruel’ battle with Motor Neurone Diease.

Annette Page, who lived in Bury St Edmund’s for 45 years, was a principal ballerina with the royal ballet where she danced with her husband, choreographer Ronald Hynd.

Born in Manchester, Annette began attending dance lessons as a child. At the age of eleven, she was given a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School and moved to London.

Her only daughter, Louise Hynd (Lulu) said: “She wasn’t ambitious in that sort of ruthless way. But she was dedicated.

Annette's 'legend will live on' say Royal Ballet (Image: Archant)

“She moved to London during the war and she would go on her own on the tube in the dark to her ballet lessons during the blitz.

“It was a bit of a hard time for her but she knew she wanted to be a ballerina and she would just work her little socks off.”

Talented Annette danced all the major roles in productions of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Swan Lake and Les Sylphides, among others and was highly praised for her skill.

“She started to dance with my father and they fell in love.

Annette pictured here with her husband, dancer and choreographer, Ronald Hynd (Image: Archant)

“They loved to laugh and had a great earthy sense of humour. Both of them loved classical music and when they first met, they would go to operas in full evening dress on my Dad’s little vespa.

“They were incredibly content and all my friends comment on what a happy marriage they had.”

Annette retired from the stage in 1967 at the age of 34, deciding to go out on top.

A year later, eleven years into her marriage, her daughter was born. Lulu also became a ballerina, inheriting her passion for the arts from her parents.

Annette with her daughter, Louise (Image: Archant)

Gary Avis, ballet master of the Royal Ballet Company said: ‘’Annette is remembered as one of the greats in the history of The Royal Ballet Company.

“I was so sad to hear the news that she had left us. She was a great friend to me here in Suffolk and a genuinely warm person with the best sense of humour and wonderful stories to tell.”

Annette and husband Ronald had a long career together (Image: Archant)