2003 - the DHO

David Jamieson (1913 - 2002)
David was the ultimate ski enthusiast, not only for himself and
his family, but also for popularising the sport, particularly in
Scotland. Interested in skiing from an early age; the early 30's
saw him on proudly owned hickory skis. He first came with
family to Wengen in 1953, where all three daughters subsequently
joined the Junior Training, then run by Ros Hep worth.
Seeing the success of the first 'professional' Scottish lift built in Glen
Coe in 1956, he sought skiing pastures closer to home in Dundee.
In 1961, with a group of likeminded friends he formed the Chairlift
Company at Glenshee, where he was Chairman for many years
expanding it to the considerable facilities available today.
To provide an alternative source of income to offset the affects of
Scotland's fickle snow supply, he was able to indulge another major
passion through building a golf club nearby - no doubt to the
advantage of his handicap. Curling, fishing, cars and gardening
were his other interests, all engaged with characteristic enthusiasm.
He worked in the Jute industry in Dundee and was one time
chairman of the London Jute Association.
Joan Hanlin (1917-2001;
To most D.H.O. members of the 1950's and 1960's era, she will be
best remembered as Joan Shearing, a very fine skier who worked
extremely hard for, and was a very significant figure in, club affairs
for roughly 30 years. Joan was born in Birkenhead in October
1917, her father was a regular soldier posted to Ireland, so for the
first 5 years of her life she lived with her grandparents. Later the
family settled in Bournemouth and Joan went to Downe House, a
girl's school near Newbury.
Joan was introduced to winter sports in the mid 1930's and first
came to the Hotel Victoria in Wengen around 1935. She joined the
SCGB in 1936 and the D.H.O in 1939 by which time she was
making a name for herself winning races. She married Bill Murphy
by whom she had two daughters, Shelagh and Patricia, both of
whom became fine skiers, Patricia being a member of the British
Ski Team. In the early 1950's Joan divorced Col. Murphy and
married Nelson Shearing, a farmer from Andover. In 1953 she had
a third daughter, Edith. By now Joan's life had settled into its future
pattern - she wintered in Wengen, where her family would, at
intervals, join her at the Eiger and played tennis for Wiltshire and
then Dorset in the summer.
Her racing and collection of cups continued unabated until the late
1950's. One of her best achievements was, at the age of 40, to win
the Downhill event at the 1957 British Ladies Championships on
skis borrowed from Karl Molitor also coming 11th in the Slalom
and 10th in the Combined. Joan regularly 'repped' for the D.H.O,
was on the Committee for over 14 years and very much involved
in the club's Wengen activities. She was awarded a D.H.O. Gold
badge, a Gold Racing Arrow, an SCGB Racing Lion and
eventually an Honorary D.H.O Member.
Joan loved soft snow and was always game for the occasional tour.
Around 1970, very much at the last minute, she joined a small
His three daughters Valerie,
Sheila and Helen skied in the
Scottish, British and Olympic
teams respectively and his
brave wife Hilda was ever by
his side, when maximum ski
miles were obtained through
careful attention to the
Wengen timetables.
In later years their flat in
Meribel claimed their
allegiance, but a strong
affection for Wengen and
D.H.O ever remained. Often
accompanied by his black Labrador he skied into his 86th year.
Imparted with bright eye and Scottish brogue, I and many
others were inspired by his infectious enthusiasm and practical
wisdom.
I.W.M
un-guided group to do a
Loetschenlucke. When she got
her skins out at Concordia for
the climb up the Aletsch, the
straps had rotted and they
couldn't be fixed to the ski. She
refused all offers of help,
wrapped the skins round her
skis and did the two hour climb,
tough for a lady by then over
50. Her great fear was of
avalanches. Soon after the
Gummi lift opened, a
spectacular avalanche was set
off immediately under it. Joan,
riding on the chair, recognised the perpetrator of the crime. That
night, a copy of the well-known book 'Avalanche Enigma' was
placed on the Eiger's dining table opened at the appropriate place.
This was followed by a verbal onslaught from Mrs Shearing who
was definitely not amused!
After her husband's death 1972, Joan moved to Andorra in 1975
and began to withdraw from active club involvement but would
hold champagne parties by The Park Hotel swimming pool for
parties of old friends. Gradually she skied less and less, only going
out on nice days. She subsequently married a retired American
journalist John Hanlin who died in 1977.
Joan had many friends both in the village and the D.H.O. Although
she could hardly walk, she attended the D.H.O.'s 75th Anniversary
party at The Regina in February 2000, her last visit to Wengen. She
died on November 14th 2001 and is survived by her three
daughters and four grandchildren.
VG