Doreen Wells (1937-). British ballerina
Doreen Wells was born in Walthamstow in 1937. She studied at the Bush Davies School and the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School. She joined Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet in 1955 and The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden in 1956. She was a principal with The Royal Ballet Touring Company from 1960 until 1970, thereafter working with both companies. She retired in 1974 but returned for occasional guest appearances with London Festival Ballet and for galas and small tours abroad.

Doreen Wells danced in all the classics and was noted for her purity of technique and charming presence on stage, especially in Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée and The Two Pigeons. She also performed in West End musicals, including On Your Toes and 42nd Street. On her marriage in 1972, Doreen Wells became the Marchioness of Londonderry.