Skating Memories

In my life skating was my biggest passion. My parents were big Nottingham Panthers ice hockey fans and took my sister and me to matches. Eventually, Dad asked if we wanted to try skating ourselves. For my ninth birthday, I got my first pair of skates.

At 13, I began training in London with Arnold Gersweller. I left school at 14 and travelled weekly to train. Winters were spent in Davos, Switzerland with fellow students.

I won the Northern & Midland Counties Championships four years in a row under my maiden name Anne Reynolds, and the Martineau Bowl three times. I represented Nottingham. In 1958 I won the first ever Commonwealth Winter Games. My proudest moment was representing Great Britain at the European Championships in 1960 and 1961, with my best placing being 9th. I was due to go to the World Championships in Prague in 1961, but they were cancelled after a tragic plane crash claimed the lives of the American team. I also made it into the Judy annual for girls two years running! I turned professional Figure Skater and taught skating in Dundee for two years.

Nowadays

Now I’ve retired I keep busy at Lark Hill. I volunteer for Jackie’s memory group, attend quiz nights (I help write the questions!), pétanque, curling, and Otago classes. I also enjoy themed dinners and monthly film nights.

I would recommend the village. There’s so much to do, the staff are kind, and there’s a strong sense of community. It’s a lovely atmosphere and I am really enjoying my life here.