The Skaters Ball

With pressure on amateur skating, former world ice dance champion Courtney Jones introduced the NSA Ball in 1967, an evening to raise money to assist competitors with their expenses. A formal event of reception, dinner, presentations and dancing.

It was held at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London on November 29th, with 550 guests, ice and roller skaters, friends and family. Guest of honour, Jeanette Altwegg CBE, re-presented the NSA championship trophies to their holders and made a presentation to Gladys Hogg on her election as an honorary life member of the NSA. Also receiving a presentation, Captain T.D. Richardson, to mark his retirement from the Ice Figure Committee.

Cabaret was provided by World Professional Ballroom Champions Peter Eggleton and Brenda Winslade, songs from Anita Harris and then dancing from the orchestras of Sidney Lipton and Edmundo Ros.
The evening was a spectacular success, the event was to become an important part of British skating culture.

The following year, vast amounts of work ensured that the second annual Skaters' ball would be a success. The venue moved to the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane. 800 guests filled the grand ballroom, a fanfare from the Royal Horse Artillery heralded the arrival of the chairman, Courtney Jones, and his guests. Guests of honour were Oleg Protopopov and his wife Ljudmilla, who, re-presented the NSA trophies to the holders. 

Cabaret was provided by the Frank and Peggy Spencer formation teams and a display of flamenco dancing from a Spanish group, and dancing from Edmundo Ros and his orchestra.

The Hilton became the annual venue for this event, December 6th, 1969 saw 850 guests, all received by ball chairman Courtney Jones. Guest of Honour was Walter Winterbottom OBE (director of the Sports Council). Cabaret and dancing followed dinner and the formalities, the party was still in full flow when it ended at 2am.

And so it all began, 1970 saw 890 guests and the popularity of the event, and it's fund raising objectives, gained momentum. 

In 1971, a 'Miss Skaters Ball' competition was inaugurated, the results were:-
1st Linda Fraser (Solihull) 2nd Judy Bigmore (Richmond) 3rd Jenny Mudge (Streatham). Compère was Shaw Taylor.

Following the 1976 ball, Courtney Jones 'retired' as Chairman of the Ball Committee, and at the 1977 event, a bronze of John Curry was presented to mark his achievements, in creating an event, very formal, providing an annual appreciation of skating, recognizing achievement, providing an excellent evening 'on the town' and raising money for British skaters.

As time passed, the attraction of a formal evening, the time to organize and the ticket costs has caused the event to be consigned to the history books, the Skaters Ball was a special event, ask the skaters of the time.