A former dancer who worked with Elvis Presley and produced films for Monty Python has moved to Frome.

Patricia Casey, known to her friends and family as Pat, is now a resident at Frome Nursing Home.

She has had an extraordinary life, born in 1936 in Hell's Kitchen, New York City, to a Swiss immigrant mother and Irish-American father.

Growing up in a poverty-stricken neighbourhood, Ms Casey and her sister Katherine shared a passion for dance.

The sisters were eventually accepted into the prestigious High School of Performing Arts in New York City.

Her talent quickly propelled her to join the Joffrey Ballet Company, launching her into the professional dance world at just 15 years old.

Ms Casey's career marked a turning point for her family, as she became their primary support, displaying a sense of responsibility and independence beyond her years.

In her 20s, she ventured to the burgeoning city of Las Vegas, where she performed in various dance shows that captivated audiences.

There, she met her first husband, an older man involved in the race track scene.

However, the allure of Las Vegas faded for her when she discovered she was pregnant.

Seeking a more secure life, she left the glitz of Vegas behind.

In the early 1960s, Ms Casey became a single mother, a bold move during a time when single motherhood often came with societal challenges.

Undeterred, she seized opportunities wherever she could find them and was eventually asked to choreograph a film featuring Elvis Presley.

Her professionalism impressed the industry, leading her to work in production as well.

In 1966, Ms Casey and her young daughter Alicia crossed the Atlantic to London.

(Image: Frome Nursing Home) She thrived in the dynamic UK film industry and worked on the first Monty Python film, 'And Now For Something Completely Different.'

The film was reported to be 'scrappy' but well-received in the U.S., especially by Elvis Presley, who is said to have screened it over 45 times at his private cinema in Graceland.

Patricia with Elvis Presley (Image: Frome Nursing Home) Ms Casey's unique combination of drive and creativity made her a respected figure in the industry.

By the early 1980s, the film industry in the UK had quietened, so she returned to the United States hoping to revive her career.

Despite her efforts, finding work proved difficult, and she eventually returned to the UK.

In this next chapter, Ms Casey became a loving grandmother, helping Alicia care for her children while she worked.

Though her days of dancing across stages and working on film sets were behind her, Ms Casey's independence, courage, and deep love for her family remained ever-present.

Now, at Frome Nursing Home in Somerset, her life, once filled with the whirl of dance and the glamour of film, has transformed into a quieter, yet significant chapter.

Those who care for her know her as a kind-hearted, resilient woman, whose life story inspires and whose presence brings comfort to those around her.

Her daughter Alicia reflects on her mother's legacy as one of bravery, love, and fierce independence.

From the young girl dancing her way out of Hell's Kitchen to the choreographer who once directed Elvis, Pat Casey's journey has been extraordinary.

Her family cherishes her not just for her accomplishments, but for the strength, love, and resilience she has shown every step of the way.