Josie Woods

[1][2] In 1927, Belle Davis held auditions for a dance troupe in the East End of London, and selected Woods and her brother, Charles or Charlie.

[1][2] The Magnolia Blossoms worked in Paris with Louis Douglas, and became part of his show Black People.

[1][2] Woods worked in France for two years before returning to Britain in 1932 as part of the group Eight Black Streaks.

[1] The group toured music halls and were successful, being described as "the first established dance troupe of black Britons".

[1] After the Second World War, she set up an act with one of her students, Willie Payne, and they appeared in clubs as Ken Ross and Lucille.

[2] When working as an extra on the film Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure (1951), she organised a strike over pay.