
'How I helped Torvill and Dean 45 years ago'
Speaking to the BBC in their dressing room at the National Ice Centre, Dean said: "Tony helped us so much, really quietly in the background."He didn't make a song and dance about it, but he put on some fundraisers to send us off the European and world championships."Torvill added: "It's just fantastic what he did to put on those shows - and the artists who gave their time and the generosity of the public who came and donated some money."
Tony, now 80, still has the bright orange poster promoting the fundraiser held at the-then Gedling Miners Welfare in Mapperley in January 1980."This is the show that started it off," he said.It forms part of a collection of memorabilia, including posters and photographs, which Tony said he had not shared with anyone for 45 years.He said his involvement had begun with a phone call from an ice skating coach called Mick Wild, who asked if he could use his showbusiness connections to put on some events to raise money for Torvill and Dean.He organised raffles and shows at social clubs and miners clubs, raising £4,500 in total.Tony said: "Nottingham's got a great history of sporting activity."I'd explained to the artists, who gave their services free, that they would be helping someone who might become very, very successful."It was an act of faith on their part, but they took a bit of persuading."
Tony knew Brian Clough, who led Nottingham Forest to back-to-back European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980, and called him to see if he could help.He recalled Clough's response: "Young man, I can't send the team but I can send the European Cup."Those who attended the event had their photos taken with the cup and a letter kept by Tony shows that Clough also sent a cheque for £25.The money raised went towards the purchase of video camera equipment that was used by Torvill and Dean to improve their rehearsals.Reflecting on the fundraising events he organised and the support they gave to the duo, Tony said he felt "very proud"."Now that they are world famous, there's no other act, no other skaters like Torvill and Dean and I'm very proud to be involved with them," he added.
Torvill and Dean unveiled a newly-updated tram in their name on Tuesday to celebrate their career.A rink at the National Ice Centre was also officially named after them and a blue plaque marking their final performance was revealed.Looking ahead to their last show, Dean said: "We want it to be a celebration, it's not a sad occasion, for us it's full circle. "This is where we started in Nottingham, this is sacred ground for us."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Strictly's Anton Du Beke opens up about wife Hannah's ‘cruel and inexplicable' diagnosis in heartbreaking comments
STRICTLY Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has opened up about his wife Hannah Summers' deeply harrowing experience with endometriosis and the effect it had on their journey to parenthood. The 59-year-old, who recently joined Celebrity Gogglebox, got married to marketing executive Hannah in 2017 and the pair welcomed their twins George and Henrietta through IVF. 4 4 4 Now Anton has revealed that his spouse had big reservations about her ability to start a family as a result of her condition. While appearing on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, the BBC One star expressed: 'I knew I wanted to be with her, I saw her with her nephews. She's so kind and so caring, I just couldn't understand the universe. 'And whoever is upstairs, if anyone's upstairs, looking down and going 'you are the most perfect person to have children, but I'm not going to let you have any children because I'm going to give you this'. "And I'm going to say 'you're going to have this endometriosis, and you're going to suffer with this all of your life, chronically, and I'm not going to let you have any children. "I thought that was peculiar, cruel, and inexplicable and unforgivable. And if ever I go up to somewhere and meet this person I would say 'I think you're not OK with decisions like this, this doesn't make any sense to me,' he lamented. The dancer went on to praise women for the things they have to go through with their bodies and health and shared his sadness about not being able to take Hannah's pain away. He continued: 'Then we went through the process of IVF, well crying out loud. You girls are extraordinary. As much as I want to get involved, all I can do is hold your hand. 'It makes me emotional every time I talk about it. The injections, the stress, the anxiety. I have anxiety and stress but it's not my body. "She has these injections and the bruises in the bum, in the thigh, in the stomach. And you're trying to help but what can you do? 'Whatever you want, tell me and I'll do it but that's all you have and it's horrendous as a man to watch it. Fuming Strictly viewers accuse 'mean' judge Anton DuBeke of being 'horrible' to celeb - did you spot it? 'You feel so inadequate and you want to do so much more but I can't do anything. And that's why you girls are so extraordinary, you're extraordinary that you do all this stuff." Anton and Hannah were fortunate enough to conceive after their first round of IVF and are now a happy family of four. This isn't the first time Anton has opened up about Hannah's endometriosis as he discussed her battle while appearing on Loose Women in 2020. He told the ladies: 'For a woman, it affects the quality of your life to a degree because it sort of comes in three parts. "First, there's the excruciating pain, second there's the swelling. It sometimes makes you look like you're pregnant, which is quite a perverse thing because people come up to you and say 'congratulations' and you're like 'actually, no'.' 4


Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Queen Camilla is elegant in an all-white ensemble as she attends the King George Racing Weekend at Ascot solo
Queen Camilla was typically elegant in an off-white ensemble as she arrived at Ascot Racecourse without King Charles this afternoon. The Queen Consort, 78, was attending the annual King George Racing Weekend in Berkshire - and she more than dressed the part. The royal opted for a monochrome look, in a tailored, off-white dress. She styled the long-sleeved dress with a matching wide-brimmed hat, and carried an umbrella to shield from any impending rain. Camilla completed her look with natural make-up, and kept her blonde hair in its usual bouncy style. It's been a busy week for the Queen Consort, who attended the Sandringham Flower Show with King Charles just days ago. She saw the funny side as she met a royal fan who has had her royal cypher tattooed on his leg - and revealed that one of her police officers also has one too. King Charles and the Queen were attending Sandringham Flower Show, held in the grounds of the Norfolk royal residence, where they marvelled at exhibits, toured stands and met hundreds of well-wishers in their final large-scale joint public engagement before they begin their summer holidays. Phil Smith, 61, from Northampton pulled up his shorts to show Her Majesty his latest royal inking, telling her that it had 'bloody hurt', prompting her to laugh uproariously. She then turned to her one of her police protection officers and said 'look, he's got one too'. Mr Smith said afterwards that he had been writing to Camilla since before her marriage to the King as he thought 'she was great' and that she frequently responded. He has a total of four large tattoos along the outer side of his left leg, starting with Queen Elizabeth's royal cypher and including both Charles and Camilla's individual ones. His latest - situated on the top of his thigh - is of their joint royal cypher and took about an hour and a half to do. He waited at the front of the crowd at the Sandringham Flower Show to show the Queen. Wearing a black shirt, large cross, denim shorts and sliders, Mr Smith said after their meeting: 'I just think she's fabulous and have got to know her a bit. We just hit it off. 'I love the royal family and she in particular has got a good sense of humour. She frequently responds. 'I waited to see her to show her my latest [tattoo] and she laughed. She said one of her security men has also had it done too.' He said he thought it was of their joint royal cypher and the police officer was there with her that day. He added: 'Honestly, she's just great. We exchange letters. She knew who I was. She asked how long it [the latest one] took and I told her about two and a half hours. 'But I told her this one bloody hurt. She just finds it hilarious.


BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Calandagan storms to King George triumph at Ascot
French favourite Calandagan came from behind to pass Kalpana and win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at ridden by Mickael Barzalona, provided trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with his second successive triumph after Goliath last 11-10 favourite's attitude was questioned after he lost out in a tight finish to Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last month but there was no doubting his resolution this time."I'm so pleased for this horse," said Graffard after Calandagan, running in the green and red colours of the Aga Khan, won by a Brueghel, trained by Aidan O'Brien, made the running at a steady pace before eventual runner-up Kalpana hit the front going to the final furlong. Rebel's Romance, who was boxed in on the rail, finished third in the five-runner race. The King George is a highlight of the Flat racing season and it was announced on Saturday the contest will become Britain's richest race next year with a prize fund of £ a purse of £1.5m this year, along with the Derby at Epsom, its roll call of winners include greats such as Nijinsky, Shergar, Dancing Brave and 2025 King George renewal was the 75th running of the race and came 50 years after Grundy beat Bustino in an epic billed as 'the race of the century'.