Joan Dewhirst

Joan Dewhirst (1935 – 14 April 2020) was a British figure skater who competed in ice dance.[1]

Joan Slater (nee Dewhirst)
Died2020
Bramhall, England
Figure skating career
Country Great Britain
PartnerJohn Slater
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Figure skating: Ice dancing
World Championships
Silver medal – second place1952 ParisIce dance
Silver medal – second place1953 DavosIce dance

Skating career

Dewhirst was born in Manchester, England. She began skating at age 11, and progressed quickly through the testing levels in figures, ice dance, and pairs. At the age of 14, Joan formed a dance partnership with John Slater and within a year were the silver medalists in the 1951 International Ice Dance Competition in Milan (forerunner to the World Ice Dance Championships). Joan and Jack trained in Manchester with Jack Wake, and also London by Gladys Hogg (famed British figure skating coach of the 1940s-1980s). Shortly after the Milan championship, Joan and John won the first of their three British Ice Dance Championships.[2]

With partner John Slater, she won silver medals at the first two World Championships in ice dance: in 1952 and 1953.[1][3][4][5][6]

After retiring from competition in 1954 they spent several years touring with the Ice Capades and won the World Professional Championship 6 times.

Coaching

Joan transitioned to coaching in the early 1960s in Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham before spending decades as an elite coach in Altrincham.[7]

Joan coached many British dance champions including Susan Getty & Roy Bradshaw, Karen Barber & Nicky Slater, Sharon Jones & Paul Askham, Sinead Kerr & John Kerr, and Lloyd Jones.[8]

Recognition

Joan was awarded a MBE Order of the British Empire in 2007, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Figure Skating Association in 2016.[9]

Personal life and death

Joan and John Slater retired from competition in 1954 and married in July of that year. Their first of two sons Olympic figure skater Nicky Slater was born in 1958. Second son Kim was born on the way to the hospital while on the M62 motorway. Joan's husband John died in 1989.

Joan died on 14 April 2020 and is survived by her sons Nicky and Kim.[10]

Competitive highlights

With John Slater

Event 1952 1953
World Championships2nd2nd

References
  1. James R. Hines (22 April 2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Scarecrow Press. pp. 72–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7085-7. Joan Dewhirst John Slater.
  2. "Joan Slater MBE - Obituary - 15/04/2020". 15 April 2020.
  3. James R. Hines (22 April 2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Scarecrow Press. pp. 290–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7085-7. Joan Dewhirst.
  4. Alice Berman (1 January 1998). Skater's Edge Sourcebook: Ice Skating Resource Guide. Skater's Edge. ISBN 978-0-9643027-1-6.
  5. Howard Bass (1 January 1974). Let's go skating. Paul. ISBN 978-0-09-121050-2.
  6. Raymond Flower (1976). The history of skiing and other winter sports. Methuen. Joan Dewhirst.
  7. "Joan Slater MBE - Obituary - 15/04/2020". 15 April 2020.
  8. "Joan Slater MBE - Obituary - 15/04/2020". 15 April 2020.
  9. "Resident-receives-lifetime-achievement-award-at-sunrise-of-bramhall".
  10. "Joan Slater MBE - Obituary - 15/04/2020". 15 April 2020.
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