Tracey undertakes to teach rock 'n' roll

Every day, Tracey Simms dons black and is the epitome of discretion in her job as an assistant funeral director.

In her free time, the undertaker's demure clothes go back on the hanger as she pulls out her stockings and flared dresses - and teaches people how to jive.

The rock 'n' roll lover from Wednesbury is even planning a 1950s wedding to her DJ fiancŽ, Simon Witcombe.

Tracey was born into a rock 'n' roll household in West Bromwich 44 years ago. Her parents, Betty and Dennis, were fans of that era.

"My earliest memories are dressing up in the clothes," she said.

"We used to have a rag and bone man come round and if you gave him a bag of rags he would give you anything from his horse and cart. We would go for the dresses and shoes.

"From when I was about 13 we used to go up to the Oakdale Club, in West Bromwich, where there would be rock 'n' roll dancing and a disco."

She first met Simon, aged 43, when the pair were teenagers. They went their separate ways, married, had two sons each, and later divorced.

It was when the Oakdale re-opened five years ago that they met up again - and it was love at first sight. They have been together ever since and plan to marry at Spring Head Methodist Church, Wednesbury on June 26 next year.

Tracey has even persuaded minister Andrew Farrington to get in the spirit and wear jeans and a checked shirt while he performs the service.

Her extraordinary home life is in stark contrast to her day job.

She has worked as an assistant funeral director at Co-op Funeral Directors, in Wednesbury, for four years.

"I love my job," she said. "You've got to have a professional nature to be a funeral director and when I tell people what I do they look at me as if to say they would never have believed I was an assistant funeral director.

"I deal with the families of the deceased and arrange the funerals. People think that funerals are morbid, but they are a celebration of somebody's life."

At her home in Warner Street, Tracey's living room is complete with a jukebox that plays only 1950s music, from the likes of The Five Keys to Tommy Steele.

The couple have a collection of more than 1,000 LPs and 2,000 singles. Her son Kurt, 17, plays double bass with The Bobcats.

After work, Tracey teaches dance classes at Springvale Social Club, in Bilston, and she insists on wearing only 1950s-style clothing.

"We don't like modern clothing - this is what we wear to go out in," said Tracey pointing to her 50s-style dress, stockings and heels.

"If I was to wear modern clothing the only thing I would go out in is tight jeans or pencil skirt, because they're from that era."

To stay on trend, Tracey sources her clothes from eBay, Second to None in Walsall, and also makes many of the clothes she wears, including the dress she will be walking down the aisle in next year.

She said she and Simon are often stopped in the street, and neighbours love their old-fashioned style - as well as the blue and white Ford Consul on their driveway.

"We just love everything about the era," Tracey added. "Women dress like women and men dress like men.

"Simon won't leave the house until he has polished his shoes. We are just old fashioned people living in the modern world."