Diane Towler
Diane Towler MBE married Green, (born 16 December 1946) is an English former ice dancer and currently a figure skating coach. She is a four-time (1966–1969) World and European champion with skating partner Bernard Ford.

Personal life
Diane Towler-Green was born 16 December 1946 in Kensington, London. She is the mother of ice dancers Candice Towler-Green and Phillipa Towler-Green,[1] and the aunt of Mark Bosley.
Career
Towler was partnered with Bernard Ford by the duo's coach, Gladys Hogg.[2] The two debuted at the World Championships in 1964, finishing 13th. In 1965, they finished just off the podium in 4th. Towler/Ford won gold at the 1966 European Championships and went on to win their first World title. They would win the World and European titles for four consecutive seasons.[3]
At the 1968 Winter Olympics, Towler/Ford skated in a demonstration event for ice dancing,[4] winning the gold medal. Ice dancing became an official part of the Winter Olympics in 1976.
Towler/Ford are MBE recipients and were inducted into the World Figure skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 1993.[5] Their best-known program was skated to Zorba the Greek. After retiring from amateur competition, they performed in ice shows until Ford moved to Canada.
Towler became a figure skating coach. Her ice dancing students include:[2]
- Janet Sawbridge / Peter Dalby (1972 Europeans bronze medalists)
- Candice Towler-Green / James Phillipson
- Phillipa Towler-Green / Phillip Poole, both British Junior champions and world competitors
- Debbie Burne / Mark Bosley, British junior champions and 5th at Junior Worlds [6]
- Elizabeth Coates / Alan Abretti who competed at the World and European Championships
- Ashlie Slatter / Atl Ongay-Pérez, youngest British National Junior silver medalists, [7] Junior Grand Prix 2022 competitors,[8][9] and youngest Junior Worlds 2023 competitors to qualify and subsequently place 18th.[10]
Results
(with Ford)
Event | 63–64 | 64–65 | 65–66 | 66–67 | 67–68 | 68–69 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
World Championships | 13th | 4th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
European Championships | 4th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | |
British Nationals | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
References
- "INTERVIEWS: Diane Towler-Green". ice-dance.com. 20 February 2004. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007.
- Ömer, Huriye; Dobor, Helga (2007). "Diane Towler – Where It All Began". Absolute Skating.
- Bird, Denis L. (2010). "A Brief History of Ice and the National Ice Skating Association of Great Britain". British Ice Skating Association.
- "Ice Dancing Demonstration at the Winter Olympics". Topend Sports. 1968.
- "Copley-Graves, Lynn (1992). Figure Skating History: The Evolution of Dance on Ice. Platoro Press. p. 108. ISBN 0-9631758-1-5".
- "Historical Records From The British Figure and Ice Dancing Championships". Skate Guard Blog. 3 July 2022.
- "British Figure Skating Championships 2022". Junior Ice Dance Result. 2022.
- "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating". Riga. September 2022.
- "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating". Egna. October 2022.
- "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2023". Ice Dance Result. 2023.
External links
- Skatabase: 1960-1969 Worlds: Ice Dancing Results
- Skatabase: 1960-1969 Europeans: Ice Dancing Results
