What’s your day-job?
Translator
What year did you start skating?
Way back in 1955! In 1970 I had an enforced gap of 30 years, so it was back on the ice for me in 2000.
Why did you start skating?
Because the ice was there in winter if it had been freezing hard enough, as I lived near a lake, and we had an odd assortment of tie-on skates to choose from. It did not matter if the pair you ended up with did not quite match – at least you could get onto the ice!
My return to (indoor) skating was prompted by a voucher for a skating session at Hull Arena, given to me by my daughter as a Christmas present. Ironically, the ‘all-in-one’ skates I had bought with some of my first earnings in the 60s had just been donated to a charity shop, thinking I would never skate again! Needless to say it was not long before I had a brand-new pair of skates. One of Kingston Ice Dance Club’s members spotted me at a public skating session one day and persuaded me to come to a club session, for which I am grateful to this day, as I am able to combine my love of music, dancing and skating on Tuesday nights!
What’s your favourite compulsory/pattern dance?
My favourite dance is the Riverside Rhumba, closely followed by the Canasta Tango and Golden Skaters’ Waltz.
Which disciplines have you participated in since you started skating?
Ice Dance
Please tell us all about your skating highlights:
It’s such a thrill to win your particular dance in a RIDL competition, especially the very first time you take part in one. In November 2000 I drove up to Prestwick to watch the British Championships and see James Black of Hull place 3rd in the Senior Men’s competition. Sinead and John Kerr came second that year and I have watched their progress over the years with great interest.
When you’re not on the ice, what are you doing?
When I am not skating I help out at a local charity shop one afternoon a week and at the local Arts Centre as often as I can. I also enjoy going to concerts and watching theatre shows with lots of singing and dancing (or skating). I finished reburbishing my bungalow recently and can now be found spending many a happy hour tending my gardens (sounds very grand, but they’re only handkerchief size!).
Loading...