2003 - the DHO

From: Carol Pettman
April 5th 2003
Dear Editor,
2003
Letters to the Hon. Editor
It was with very great sadness that I heard of the death of Chris Brasher. Many, many years ago when I was ski rep for the D.H.O,
Chris and his son Hugh joined my happy band of warriors. I remember many conversations that we had on a range of topics, not
least being the AAA on which Chris held very strong views.
The calibre of the man was demonstrated after a large fall of new snow. The Ski Club rep and I decided we could only take a
maximum of, I think, 8 of the 20 or so people who turned up to ski with us. It was my unenviable task to pick those who could
cope with the conditions. I had had a particularly difficult time with a D.H.O member whose idea of his own ability to ski in powder
snow was not matched by my own view of his prowess. I then turned to Chris; I did not have to say a word, he put his hands
in the air and immediately said that he and Hugh would go off together. No question, no argument. I still remember the enormous
sense of relief and respect I felt. I knew that Hugh could have managed, but I had serious doubts about Chris whose style of
skiing then was somewhat matched by the out of date black anorak he wore!
I had hoped to meet Chris again at the D.H.O AGM and Auction last November, sadly this was not to be. My sympathy goes to
his family and particularly, Hugh.
Yours sincerely,
Carol Pettman - nee Wheeler. Pear Tree Cottage, Silchester Road, Bramley, Tadley, Hants RG26 5DG
(Right) Staeger's Hotel,
Oberland circa 1952.
(Far right) The Dundee Ski Club
of 1952.
(Bottom/left) Start of the Punch
Bowl, 1952.
From: Robert Benzies
23rd June 2003
Dear David, * *
Ramsay Whittet recently loaned me copies of four D.H.OwJournals including the 2002 issue. Having edited the Dundee Ski Club
Journal for 19 years and sat on the Scottish National Ski council, reading these Journals made me realise how many D.H.O
people I had met and got to know.
Dick Edmonds and I used to regularly correspond when we ^r> both Hon Editors. I met Ingie Christophersen and remember, when
we were testing a prototype electronic slalom finish gate that Ingie wore breeches made out of some form of fluorescent material
which wouldn't break the beam! Richard Berry spent some time with us in Scotland and I recall talking about team management
with Ros Hepworth. Our Dundee Club provided a number of Coggins over the years, notably Helen Somerville (nee Jamieson) who
was in the British team with Divina.
In 1952 the Blairgowrie section of Dundee Ski Club visited Wengen and stayed at the Oberland Hotel in Lauterbrunnen owned by
Fritz Staeger. We were taught by his son Werner who later became a well-known teacher and guide. To see whether our skiing
abilities matched our bar talk, we were 'invited' to descend the direct line into the Punch Bowl where we all ended in a pile at his
feet. In the Swiss Silver timed descent down the Wengen Standard, Werner set us off at 5 second intervals and then, stopwatch in
hand, overtook us all on the way down and timed our finishes. Perhaps my return visit is overdue. I was always pleased to see my
name (BOB) on the railway carriages.
Yours sincerely,
Robert J. Benzies, Isla Mor, Easter Bendochy, Coupar Angus, Perthshire PHI3 9HU