Bernie Ford

Bernie Ford started skating at the age of four and when he was eight was winning competitions at a local club, and proudly boasted later in life that he used to regularly beat John Curry when they were both youngsters. Ford’s parents saw his potential as a figure skater and moved him to London to be coached by the legendary Gladys Hogg. As he lacked confidence as an individual, Hogg paired him up with Diane Towler in the ice dance, and Ford showed his true ability. The pair went on to dominate the world of ice dancing in the latter half of the 1960s, and their free dance routine to Zorba the Greek became one of the sport’s iconic dances.

Having finished third with Towler at the 1964 British Figure Skating Championships, they were third again in 1965 when they went on to finish fourth in both the European and World Championships. The following year saw them start a four-year period in which they dominated ice dancing when they completed the treble of British, European and World titles each year from 1966-69. They also competed at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics when ice dancing was included as an exhibition event, performed just before the Closing Ceremony. No points or medals, however, were awarded.

Ford and Towler turned professional after winning the 1969 world title and won the World Professional Ice Dance Championship in their first year as paid skaters. Ford later became a successful coach and emigrated to Canada in 1970 where he coached over 20 national champions and many ice dance duos, including 1986 World Championship bronze medallists Tracy Wilson and Rob McCall.

Ford also established the National Ice Dance Centre of Canada and was a co-founder of the Ford Skating School. He was a successful choreographer, and was one of the four co-inventors of the Cha-Cha Congelado, which became an International Skating Union pattern dance after its début at Richmond Hill, Ontario, in 1989. Ford also taught in the United States and produced more national champions, and also coached Australian and Japanese teams at the World Championships.

Ford was awarded the MBE in 1970, and was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, British Skating Hall of Fame, Skate Canada Hall of Fame, and the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame (Canada). Just a few years before his death, Ford embarked on a new career in television, appearing in shows and commercials.