L O V E O F S K I I N G
My brother Richard, then 3 years old, and I, aged 5, were in Vienna with our parents, staying with friends both in their national dress.
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After a time, we were going to learn to ski for the very first time. We headed for Innsbruck and then on to a small village called KOSSEN.
Madey was with us but she didn't ski. Mummy and Dad and their friends would be away for most of the day, skiing. We would have GEORGE, our skilehrer [instructor], we adored him! Every day he took us out on the children's slopes, but it wasn't long before we both progressed. Although Richard was younger than I, he was a better skier, much to my annoyance! When we got tired, George would put us under his arms and carry us home! Our German improved and with the local children we would sing songs and dance around. Sadly it was time for Mummy and Daddy to go back to Zanzibar, Daddy was head of a shipping company there and Madey came with us to England to live with our Grandmother. But we had certainly caught the skiing bug. |
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F A S T F O R W A R D
When Richard was at Cambridge University, he skied for them. Oxford was skiing against Cambridge at Zermatt and I was there to watch. Oxford won, but Richard had the fastest time. He was asked to train for the Olympics but declined!
I skied well and was asked by The Ski Club of Great Britain to represent them at ST CERGUE for the winter season.
I skied well and was asked by The Ski Club of Great Britain to represent them at ST CERGUE for the winter season.
S A I N T - C E R G U E L A D O L E - S W I T Z E R L A N D
I brought my children, Lucinda and Ashley, to Saint Cergue at the same age that Richard and I started skiing in Kossen.
Saint Cergue is above Lake Geneva, giving the most fantastic views as far as Mont Blanc. We flew into Geneva and took the train from Nyon which was such fun as it slowly climbed and climbed up into the snow to the impressive Jura peak of La Dole.
There was just one very big hotel. The same families came back time and time again. The resort is perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers.
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F I N S E
What an experience!
What an experience!
I had just arrived by sea from Mombasa, and my brother, Richard, was at Cambridge University. My parents, in Mombasa, had arranged for us to ski at Finse in Norway. We knew nothing about this place. We left from Newcastle in a ship bound for Bergen, Norway’s second largest city. We were to overnight and arrive the next day at Bergen.
I heard later on that the vessel we were on was nicknamed ‘The Vomiting Venus’. The sea was very rough but Richard and I had no problems, thankfully! However that evening, at the most delicious buffet, it was virtually just he and me!
When we got to Bergen we took the train. Finse is a mountain village on the shore of Lake Finsevatnet in Norway’s Hordaland county. There is no road access, only a railway stop. It took us all day to get to Finse, the highest railway station in Norway, at 4,009ft above sea level.
I heard later on that the vessel we were on was nicknamed ‘The Vomiting Venus’. The sea was very rough but Richard and I had no problems, thankfully! However that evening, at the most delicious buffet, it was virtually just he and me!
When we got to Bergen we took the train. Finse is a mountain village on the shore of Lake Finsevatnet in Norway’s Hordaland county. There is no road access, only a railway stop. It took us all day to get to Finse, the highest railway station in Norway, at 4,009ft above sea level.
There was just one hotel and nothing else! There were no tourists, only locals, and Richard and I didn't like the Norwegian food and unless we had brought alcohol with us, there was no bar! It was Arctic cold and we learnt that Scott had trained here to cope with his famous trek to the South Pole. There was not even one tree! Just snow, snow and glaciers. No ski lift. There was a truck and there was a long rope and we had to hang onto this while we were pulled up the mountain. Freezing cold!
Apart from the tractor, there were husky dogs! Very lovely. But if you wanted them to pull you, no one would help with kitting them out into four dogs in pairs and if you eventually got it right, then you had to say “mush” to get them to move! They very soon did what they liked and were all over the place. I would fall over and all four would be licking me!
The final straw was when we were leaving for Oslo. The train arrived in the dark, the weather was appalling and there was a rope from the train to the hotel and we had to hang on, moving along till we were at the train!
Never to be repeated! A very long time ago!
S Q U A W V A L L E Y, C A L I F O R N I A
S q u a w V a l l e y / A l p i n e M e a d o w s / L a k e T a h o e
S q u a w V a l l e y / A l p i n e M e a d o w s / L a k e T a h o e
I was flying with BOAC and flying across the ‘pond’ to New York a good deal of the time. In my day there was only one Stewardess on the flight and seven Stewards! I was in the Cabin a good deal of the time. Occasionally I would even play bridge with my passengers!
Our First Class passengers were mostly Americans. They were very friendly and talkative and seemed to like my British accent. A delightful young couple asked me if I had ever skied in America? "No I haven't" I said.
"Well you must come as our guest to a resort we own called Squaw Valley, the Olympics are going to being held here so please come before they take place.” Later I learnt they were millionaires and lived in Boston.
I flew to San Francisco and stayed with friends. I then flew to Reno where their helicopter picked me up and flew me to Squaw Valley. I had arranged to have about two hours in Reno, Nevada. WHY? Because I had heard how their courts worked, mainly over divorce! It was amazing! You could go into any court and sit and listen. All the proceedings went very quickly and on the divorce side, both parties had much to say! All this, of course, was new to me but the outcome was quick and at times very amusing. I would go to one court and then another. Never a dull moment!
The chopper arrived and it was a short flight over Lake Tahoe to Squaw Valley. I was to stay in the owners’ house, very close to the ski lifts. There was a swimming pool in the middle of the return area. I was given my own guide and words failed to outline my utter delight. No wonder the Olympics were to be held there. From the top of the mountain, looking down at Lake Tahoe, was so beautiful.
Our First Class passengers were mostly Americans. They were very friendly and talkative and seemed to like my British accent. A delightful young couple asked me if I had ever skied in America? "No I haven't" I said.
"Well you must come as our guest to a resort we own called Squaw Valley, the Olympics are going to being held here so please come before they take place.” Later I learnt they were millionaires and lived in Boston.
I flew to San Francisco and stayed with friends. I then flew to Reno where their helicopter picked me up and flew me to Squaw Valley. I had arranged to have about two hours in Reno, Nevada. WHY? Because I had heard how their courts worked, mainly over divorce! It was amazing! You could go into any court and sit and listen. All the proceedings went very quickly and on the divorce side, both parties had much to say! All this, of course, was new to me but the outcome was quick and at times very amusing. I would go to one court and then another. Never a dull moment!
The chopper arrived and it was a short flight over Lake Tahoe to Squaw Valley. I was to stay in the owners’ house, very close to the ski lifts. There was a swimming pool in the middle of the return area. I was given my own guide and words failed to outline my utter delight. No wonder the Olympics were to be held there. From the top of the mountain, looking down at Lake Tahoe, was so beautiful.
But it was so different to all the places I had skied in Europe. In the evenings, the guests would get into their big cars and head for Reno to gamble! You had to watch your skis as they could be stolen! When I had finished skiing, I would get into a costume and throw myself into the hot pool with snow all around me.
ROME
I was flying with BOAC and over Christmas we had a 4 day layover in Rome so myself and some of the crew thought it would be fun to ski somewhere. All the possible resorts were about two hours drive away and we were advised to go to Campo Felice in the central Appennines. We hired a car and enjoyed wonderful sunshine, it was a super day.
I was flying with BOAC and over Christmas we had a 4 day layover in Rome so myself and some of the crew thought it would be fun to ski somewhere. All the possible resorts were about two hours drive away and we were advised to go to Campo Felice in the central Appennines. We hired a car and enjoyed wonderful sunshine, it was a super day.
Montreal
Flying with BOAC, I was in Montreal many, many times. We sometimes had a 3/4 day layover. I had good friends in the city and once they took me to Mont-Tremblant to ski. We overnighted. Mont-Tremblant was a very busy ski resort with a casino. The skiing was excellent but I found it very, very cold and never went again! Wherever there was chance to ski, I would always have a go.
Flying with BOAC, I was in Montreal many, many times. We sometimes had a 3/4 day layover. I had good friends in the city and once they took me to Mont-Tremblant to ski. We overnighted. Mont-Tremblant was a very busy ski resort with a casino. The skiing was excellent but I found it very, very cold and never went again! Wherever there was chance to ski, I would always have a go.
TEHRAN
During my BOAC days my crew never enjoyed our layovers in Tehran. We used to have a week. I, however, loved it!
It was the first time I was there over Christmas. I always used to offer to fly during Christmas as my parents lived in Kenya and I had very little close family in the UK. I was very happy. On Christmas Day the meals on-board were delicious and the cabin was decked with festive decorations, giving the aircraft a real Christmas feel.
During my BOAC days my crew never enjoyed our layovers in Tehran. We used to have a week. I, however, loved it!
It was the first time I was there over Christmas. I always used to offer to fly during Christmas as my parents lived in Kenya and I had very little close family in the UK. I was very happy. On Christmas Day the meals on-board were delicious and the cabin was decked with festive decorations, giving the aircraft a real Christmas feel.
I heard there was a ski resort called Abali. I was there skiing 60 years ago!! This picture tells it all.
So my skiing stories started many years back, aged 5 years old, and now aged 86, I am still here! Sadly however I have given up skiing!
