By Isle of Wight Observer
As the start of 25th Winter Olympics approaches in Italy, I reflect on my own Olympic participation in the 1980s.
I grew up on a council estate, my mother was a teacher, and my father a Chief Petty Officer, RN.
I attended grammar school and, in 1971, went directly to Britannia Royal Naval College and, following initial sea training, moved to Manadon Royal Naval Engineering College to complete a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Post degree, I read in the Portsmouth Evening News the search was on for one more to join the RN Cresta team in St Moritz, Switzerland.
All I knew was it was a fast ice sport, but I put my name forward anyway and joined the team in January 1976, having obtained a personal bank loan, and working the Christmas and New Year duties. The Cresta Run is a man-made ice track and the three services compete each year in the Inter-Services competition. By the late 1970s we were doing well – I was winning the Inter-Service championship individually and the RN was winning the team event.
In 1980 Luge tobogganing at the Lake Placid Olympics piqued my interest. I badgered the team to coach me and I started with doubles, progressing as a singles rider and within a couple of years becoming British Luge Singles and Doubles champion. I was fortunate enough to be selected as team captain for the 1984 Games in Sarajevo, and was Luge team manager at 1988 Winter Olympics at Calgary.
All my training and Olympic experience was self funded, and simultaneously I continued with Cresta and a busy and varied career in the RN. Appointments such as the Plymouth Field Gun Officer (known then as the most demanding team event in the world), to HMS Royal Arthur (Leadership Training School), and later to Defence Intelligence during the Gulf War.
Highlights of the 1984 Olympics were walking behind the Union Flag in the opening ceremony, and sitting behind Princess Anne (President of the British Olympic Association) while watching Torvill and Dean win the Gold medal in ice dance. Highlights of 1988 Olympics were being roomed opposite Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards (Ski Jumper) and watching the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team competing, then crashing – both now films.
After 35 years service in the RN I was 6 years as Bursar at a private school, retiring fully in 2012.
My wife and I are both from Portsmouth, and made the decision to move to the Island and we love it here. We joined Yarmouth Sailing Club where I became Chief Instructor and, with my wife, ran all the dinghy training at the club for 5-6 years. Living in West Wight we are lucky to have the superb West Wight Sports & Community Centre, which I use regularly and for which I’ve raised funds by doing two Solent swims. Since 2014 I have been a Magistrate on the Island, sitting on both Adult and Family benches. I am currently the Bench chair, so am the voice and point of contact for all the magistrates on the Isle of Wight.
I enjoy being part of a regular crew yacht racing twice weekly out of Yarmouth and, in 2022, I joined a friend sailing around the UK to raise money for Parkinson’s, which has already been put to great use on the Island.
Reflecting on my life, the word ‘team’ is oft repeated with every aspect of being part of a team accompanying me throughout my life.
My advice to anyone is to always give your best, grasp every opportunity and see where it takes you – the team has really worked for me; jump in and let it work for you.