Laurence Stirton is not only an award-winning train driver on the Lioness and Mildmay lines, he’s also prize-winning ballroom dancer.

How did you get into train driving?

An ex-colleague of mine from many years ago worked as a guard on the London Overground. At the time, I was still working as cabin crew. She shared the job link with me after I landed in Johannesburg following a long night flight. After discussing it with my partner, who strongly encouraged me to pursue it, I started the job just under a year later in September 2016.

How did you get into dancing? I’ve been dancing since I was 13. My mum is from the Philippines, so I joined a traditional dance troupe in the UK to connect with that community. We toured the UK and Europe and even performed on TV with Paul O’Grady.

Ballroom and Latin were always things I’d wanted to try. But I only took them up in 2019, a few years after I started with London Overground. I take it quite seriously now and have done competitions in Spain and Lithuania, and in Sweden where we won! I have also danced at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

What’s your favourite dance? My favourite dance is the Viennese waltz. The technique is complex and intricate. So, I get fulfilment from dancing to the best of my ability and executing the technique as best as I can. If I get a trophy at the end, then all the better!

Do you think the perception of ballroom has changed in recent years? There used to be a perception that ballroom was for older people. Programmes like Strictly helped change that. In reality, there are kids who start aged three or four and dance to a high standard as teenagers.

How would you sum up ballroom dancing? I joke that ballroom is uncomfortable, unnatural and illogical! You want it to look beautiful and effortless but it’s incredibly hard work. I practise with my dance partner two or three times a week and I have a personal trainer to keep my fitness up. I think it’s important to balance your work with something else that you enjoy, even something as simple as cooking or walking.

Have you found any surprising similarities between train driving and ballroom dancing?

I would say both require discipline and the ability to multitask. As a train driver, you need to be very disciplined due to the safety critical nature of the role. You also need to multitask, especially during disruption.

Both Latin and ballroom dancing are highly technical, but ballroom, in particular, requires sharp instincts. When dancing, there’s so much to remember, from technicalities to partner positioning, timing, musicality, and avoiding collisions! Similarly, train driving demands sharp instincts and the ability to process multiple pieces of information simultaneously. You need to be aware of signals, track conditions and other trains, all while ensuring the safety of passengers.

Maintaining a high level of concentration is crucial. I only do private tuition due to my shift work, and it can be intense. To get the most out of the sessions, I must concentrate fully for up to two hours, which can be quite exhausting. However, it’s a skill I’ve honed from train driving, which requires long periods of intense concentration.

How do you balance work with your hobby?

I have to always ensure I’m on top of my shifts, so I can plan training around work accordingly. I’m very fortunate because my depot is close to home, and I have a colleague who I can always swap shifts with, which allows me to be consistent with rest and planning my training.

What advice would you give to someone looking to balance a demanding job with a passion or hobby?

Start small but be consistent. Make sure to block off time and plan accordingly for it. I won’t lie, balancing the two requires a huge amount of discipline and planning. I’m normally in the gym two to three times a week and in the studio another two to three times a week.

My long-term goal is to turn professional. Ultimately, if you want something, then you will find a way to make it work.