An ice skating champion from Liverpool has died aged 91.
Joan Noble was born in Liverpool on May 29, 1930, and fell in love with skating as a 9-year-old after being taken to The Blackpool Ice Show as a childhood treat.
Showing an early talent skating at The Liverpool Ice Palace, she was encouraged to take tests in both figure and ice dance, passing all to 'gold standard.'
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She continued to skate during the war even after the rink was badly damaged during the May Blitz.
When the war ended her priority was to practise for the British Junior Ladies Figure Skating Championship, which she won in 1947 by a large margin over her competitors, the second year running that the title had been won by a Liverpool skater.
Future Olympic Champion, Jeannette Altwegg had won the previous year.
In 1949 Joan was selected to skate in both European and World championships but disappointingly had to withdraw from the Worlds with food poisoning. She was also invited to give skating exhibitions all over the UK and in Paris, Milan and Switzerland.
Joan then turned professional and joined the coaching staff at the Liverpool rink in March 1950.
Among her pupils were future world champion Jean Westwood and future British champions or medallists Joyce Coates, Tony Holles, Vivian Higson, Bob Hudson and Brian Tuck.
Joan continued teaching until late 1955 when skating was to take a back seat while she raised her family
She returned to the ice in the 1960s as a judge and progressed on to the international judging panel for The International Skating Union, the world governing body.
In this role she judged at some of the world’s most important skating events, including The World Championships.
At the same time Joan was elected to serve on the committee of The National Skating Association, a position she held for over 30 years.
Joan was a national champion, international competitor, coach, judge and Team Leader for the GB skating Team but she devoted just as much time to the Liverpool skating clubs, guiding the skaters and advising them on how to improve their skills, on changes to their performance and programme content.
Chairperson of the Liverpool Eskimos, Barbara McGrouther said: "[The skaters] listened and took her advice - because it was from Joan it was valued.
"She made a difference to Liverpool Skaters, and they were proud that 'their judge' was internationally renowned and respected but always had time for them."
Joan died in Woolton on December 10, 2021 and is survived by her sons David and Barry, her four grandsons and great grandchildren.
(Additional reporting and information from Elaine Hooper, British Institute of Skating historian)
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