Yorkshire Dales Cross Country Ski Club was founded in 1981. It’s a small recreational club for those who love XC and those who are going to love XC. We are always optimistic. We fall under the umbrella of Snowsport England.

As a club, we value friendship and skiing and roller skiing together. A love of the outdoors brings us all together and keeps us together. And this is why Simon and Sarah joined the club back in 2015. They’d already been ski touring in Scotland with the girls and had had a week of cross-country skiing, as a family, in Seefeld, Austria. Little did they know how involved they would become with the club. The aging committee were already on the look-out for younger replacements and Simon and Sarah were quickly identified as potential victims.

Simon took over the role as Secretary in May 2018 and Sarah became the Treasurer at the same time. Simon’s patience was certainly tested over the years. He told me -and just about everyone else- that he didn’t enjoy doing the role …. he couldn’t wait to hand it over………We thought he was joking………Turns out he wasn’t, he really did hate it!

But he did it because he knew someone had to do it.

He did it because he cared about the future of Yorkshire Dales Cross Country Ski Club. And he cared about its members, many of whom had become friends.

He did it because he knew he could do a good job.

And he did.

His role involved communicating with members and other Nordic clubs, making decisions, and negotiating the complexities of the sometimes-opaque Snowsport England requirements. He quickly demonstrated his skills and abilities- getting to the heart of problems and suggesting simple and practical solutions, communicating, and getting on with members from different backgrounds, ages, and opinions….

His thoughtful and sound advice was valued by the rest of the committee. He was always a steady rein when we became over ambitious or took on too much. Many a grandiose scheme was quickly brought to a halt by his wise words.

At committee meetings, Simon always listened carefully to everyone’s opinion- you could almost hear his brain ticking over as he quietly listened to our ideas. Then he’d sum everything up so succinctly in a couple of sentences and give his opinion. And we all sat and wondered why our brains didn’t work like Simon’s brain.

Simon had a fantastic ability to disagree with us all in such a kind and considerate way, that you quickly forgot he was telling you that your idea was basically flawed.

He was usually right.

Simons love of the outdoors and his interest in outdoor gear, meant that he naturally fell into the role of equipment officer too. He gave his time to the maintenance and repair of our roller skis, boots, and poles, with Sarah he organised discounted, bulk orders for club members, and he liaised with individual members, giving personal advice on the sort of equipment which would best suit their needs.

And because he loved walking and he loved the hills and valleys of the Yorkshire Dales, Simon led several lovely walks for club members and their families. These walks brought together skiers, roller skiers and club members who no longer did these activities.

People like Simon, who are willing to participate whole heartedly in the running of the club, are few, and we will miss him greatly.

Club members have told us their thoughts and memories of Simon and so many have commented that what they enjoyed- and will remember- are their conversations with him- whether they were during a walk, a BBQ, whilst roller skiing round the circuit, or when cross country skiing in Norway, Finland, or Austria. Conversations ranging from equipment to cross country ski resorts, to mountaineering in Scotland, to politics and hip replacements!

Newer club members have commented on how welcome he made them feel when they joined, and how interested he was in their own experiences and their development on skis or roller skis. Some of us will remember standing together with Simon, in the dark, at well below zero in snowy Akaslompolo, with the Northern lights shining brightly above us.

We will remember his sense of humour- always clever, always well timed, and always delivered with a very cheeky smile.

We will miss his good nature and easy manner, his friendship, his company, his knowledge, his advice, his sound judgement, his conversation.

Simon enriched all our lives.