Patrons

General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL

Richard Dannatt was a soldier for forty years concluding his military career as Chief of the General Staff – the professional head of the British Army. Since retiring from active duty in 2009, he was Constable of the Tower of London until July 2016. In 2011 he became an independent member of the House of Lords and is a member of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy. He is a frequent commentator on defence and security issues in the media and columnist for The Daily Telegraph.

‘From 2006 to 2009 I was President of the Army Winter Sports Association and as such attended the annual Downhill and Biathlon Finals in Serre Chevalier in France and in Rupholding, Bavaria. As President, I was invited to open the Downhill course before the final races began, as a Vorlaufer. I was somewhat slower on the course than the racers!’

He is passionate about welfare issues relating to both serving and veteran members of the Armed Forces and the value of snowsports.

Richard and Maureen Berry

Richard & Maureen Berry have been the corner stone of the Skiers Trust for many years enabling the Trust to grow into a leading UK snowsports charity. Being very accomplished skiers, Richard managed the British Men’s Alpine Olympic Team from 1968 through to the Sapporo Olympics in 1972. After the Olympics he was involved in numerous and varied aspects of international Ski Race Championships both as a director of the British Ski Federation and a FIS Technical Director. Since 2000, Richard was been chairman of the Skiers Trust retiring in 2021. Throughout his illustrious skiing career, he has been stoically supported by his wife Maureen who acted as secretary to the Trust for many years.

Gina Sopwith

Gina Sopwith (née Hawthorn) is a British former alpine skier who competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics, in the 1968 Winter Olympics, where she finished 4th in the Slalom, and in the 1972 Winter Olympics.