Ronald Emblen's work will be imprinted on the memories of many spectators of British ballet. As a young man, he was a dependable classical dancer; as a mature artist he was unforgettable in character roles, so immersed and real that he was unrecognisable each time. He was closely associated with the famous travestie part of Widow Simone in Frederick Ashton's dearly loved masterpiece La Fille mal gardée. He gave vivid colour to Widow Simone's comedy and humanity, and invested the famous clog dance with more wit and natural ease than most other performers before or after. He also danced it more often than anyone else - 269 times.