Strictly Inverness's Alison is dancing for dad

Alison McRitchie and Martin Waugh.

WOULD Alison and Martin please take to the floor – this is our third couple taking part in this year’s Strictly Inverness event.

The dance partners have very different reasons for entering the extravaganza, but one thing’s for sure – they are both working hard to make sure they don’t disappoint on the night.

Alison McRitchie is the owner of The Head Salon in the city centre.

The 42-year-old, who is busy juggling her business, her sons Aaron 15 and 12-year-old Brad whilst also teaching badminton once a week and fitting in all the Strictly training, is taking part in memory of her dad Stan Moseley, who passed away in the hospice last November.

Alison, who lives in Westhill with her husband Steven and their children, explained: “My dad went into the hospice for five weeks. Whilst we were there someone asked me if I would do Strictly. My mum and dad both watched the show and they were both ballroom dancers, so I was quite keen.

“After I was asked I told my dad and he was just beaming. He was delighted I was going to be doing this, so I’m doing this for him.”

Naturally, after losing her dad Alison explains she was struggling, but through the training she is finding she is beginning to get her “sparkle” back.

She said: “I really struggled. I see hundreds of people in the salon and they described me as lively and effervescent, but I had lost that. However, since I’ve been doing this I am being told I have my sparkle back. It has definitely been good for me.

“I am a big believer in trying to take something positive from things like this and I have made 15 new friends because of it.”

She added: “The training is going really well. Martin is great, he is very methodical and laid back. I am really looking froward to the actual performances. Because losing dad is still so raw, I have a real fire in my belly about it. I want to do him proud.”

For dance partner Martin Waugh who is 41-years-old and lives near Tore with his wife Jill and children Rachel (5), Aaron (7) and 14-year-old step daughter Riona, it was a friend who volunteered him for the contest.

Martin, who owns the franchise for the Bathstore in Inverness, explained: “Ali Asher, a good friend of mine whose wife is taking part in Strictly, put me forward for it. He even went as far as emailing the organisers to say I was keen. I got a phone call asking me to come along to a meeting about it and before I knew it, I was being introduced to Tristian the dance instructor as one of the contestants. I still didn’t really know what it was all about. However, it sounded like fun and it’s for good causes so I was happy to launch myself into it.”

He added: “The training is going well. I am very lucky as my partner seems quite adept and she brings me along with the moves. I am the duffer and I am being dragged along by Alison.

“At the moment I am not really thinking about the big night. I am not usually the sort of person to get nervous, but of course I have never done this type of thing.”