SKIING with the RMBS

2nd Clarinet · SKIING with the RMBS

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Skiing !!!......Aahh…that reminds me… (start the lamp swinging)….

I remember in (1970?) members from ‘M’ Wing going skiing for a week in Scotland.

We travelled to the Cairngorm Mountains by ‘overnight train’ (very exciting for us young ‘uns). We (J/Musns and J/Buglers) were not in sleeping compartments, if I remember correctly; these were for the NCOs’ and Ossifers accompanying us. (Was it Lts Church &/or Craven Phillips? Or too early for them?) I know ‘we’ all sat up or lay down in normal BR compartments and some 'Egyptian PT' experts of the future, took advantage of the luggage racks and slept in them.
The train stopped at Crewe late at night, where I managed to buy a cup of Bovril and a cardboard cheese sandwich from a mobile trolley on the platform.
In the very early hours of the morning, we arrived at a snow covered Aviemore railway station to be met by a Blue, Pussers, RM Bus along with a RM 3 Tonner and their drivers.
We were then split into two groups (I can’t remember when or how this was decided).
Group 1 went to stay in the accommodation in the Aviemore Ski Centre.
Group 2 went to the accommodation ‘Rothiemurchus Lodge’ in the wilds of the Highlands. (This can be located on Multimap. South East of Aviemore Town near Castle Hill)

Aviemore Ski Centre
I stayed here, and we had to put up with warm cosy rooms, double bunk beds with Feather Down 'Duvets', hotel bars, late night Disco’s, restaurant food and girls…..A hard life for us Bandy’s!!!!
But I was willing to see it through to the end for the sake of my country.

Rothiemurchus Lodge
We (Aviemore residents) visited Rothiemurchus Hut to find a wonderful Log cabin in the middle of nowhere. There was a stream/river alongside where canoeing took place.
I remember a big open fire burning inside the ‘Hut’. The galley was staffed by RM Chefs (cleaned by the residents, I believe) and the food they prepared for us was magnificent.
(Actually, Rothiemurchus Hut seemed a great place to stay.)

We were then issued with our equipment. (Circa 1907 and leftover from Scott’s fateful expedition to the Antarctic)

Ski Jackets/suits? Nah! We were given a green Parka with a fur lined hood. (Great in those days!)
Ski Trousers/salopettes? Nah! We were given green artic combat trousers. (Again, great in those days!)
Ski Gloves? Nah! Green Woolley Gloves (Not great, even in those days!)
Ski Boots? Well…..Yes! (Brown leather boots that came just above the ankle)
Skis and Bindings? Again, well…..Yes! (Skis that were WELL used and ancient Bindings with elasticated cords for wrapping around the ankle to help keep it attached to your boots)
Ski hat? Nah! We were given a green Cap comforter.
Goggles? Can’t remember………….I’m sure we had them though.

Can you imagine... 40ish ranks dressed up and looking like extras for M.A.S.H.?

Skiing…………….
Were we introduced to our three Army ski instructors, who would be with us for the week.
Two were male instructors and the other was……. a woman instructor.
She was a good looking one too,(or is it a case of when your that young and been locked up in Deal for nearly a year, any woman looks good.)

We were to be split into 3 groups according to our ability.
Group 1 for Beginners, Group 2 for Intermediate and Group 3 for Advanced.
In my ‘opinion’, we were ALL beginners, BUT with the Advanced Group being taken by the Woman Instructor…….
Yes, can you see it coming?
The ‘Advanced’ group was over-subscribed by ‘Testosterone’ fuelled Juniors.

A great first morning was completed on the nursery slopes where having learned to ‘snowplough’ and control our skis (well, at least partially control) the two lower groups waited by the transport for our packed lunch to be issued.

Pack Lunch - Aviemore style
This consisted of the good old Brown Ration Bag with delectable contents as Spam sarnie, tomato, crisps, piece of fruit, a non- descript chocolate bar and a 'goffa' of some kind.

The ‘Advanced’ skiing group were then seen ‘traversing’ the piste.
I will describe this ‘traversing’ as a large group of Abominable snowmen careering down a snow slope (snow was caked all over them), some at 40mph straight as a die towards our groups, others were crashing into civilian skiers and their instructors, others were falling down all over the place while yet more stopped them selves by crashing into fencing.

When they got to us, some of their faces were whiter than the snow and some were shaking and it was not from the cold.
Yes, she had taken the ‘Advanced’ group to the top of the White Lady and they being foolish youths, had kept their lack of skiing knowledge to themselves.

After discussions during lunch break this group was thinned considerably more for the safety of other users on the slope, than their safety.

During our week, the weather conditions varied considerably. I remember skiing on sunny, blue sky days, heavy snow, a blizzard and a blizzard with ‘White Out’ conditions with the snow freezing to the gloves so they lookd like white amateur boxing gloves.

Then there was ‘Mogs’ Capewell.
The name became well known on the lower slopes by all users.

His name would be shouted across the piste “MOGS CAPEWELL” and the slopes would immediately clear to allow an out of control maniac ‘Schuss’ down the slope at god knows what speed, and to stop, he would simply... fall over.
He kept the moral up in our group.

Soon, the week was over and we made our way back to Deal where we would relive our skiing exploits with those that didn’t go.

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RAB

I read the whole lot, and have to say I quite enjoyed it. Apart from the gruesome journey, (no not the train but the Pussers bus) it sounds like it was a real hoot...

A day trip to France, and one to Brussels were the highlights of my J/Wing escapades...

Mind you it was the first time I'd been abroad .....

(apart from Englandshire)

Hornblower

Good story Bob - although I don't remember the female instructor.

That's probably because of a major flaw in the plans of the suppliers of the skis (booties). The only ones left by the time I got there had nothing to connect the skis to the feet. I didn't get boots either, so had to try and strap the skis to my feet by way of string. (True

)

So, there was no point in me trying to ski in any way shape or form - but I do remenber Mogs' 'Classic Style'!

I was a miserable wretch up there with my 'stringed-on' skis and got very, very annoyed when I couldn't get them off, due to my fingers being so cold that I couldn't undo the plethora of granny knots keeping them firmly on my feet.

I ended up 'sawing' through the string with a yale key - took me bloody ages...

However, it wasn't all bad news - I got the good accommodation!! YAY!!!

Altogether, it was a mixed trip for me - but I did learn to ice skate.

bootybandy

One of the best bits I liked about Aviemore and the Rothimerchus Ski Hut adventure was when a few of us came down the White Lady and did a left turn just before the very steep part. Lt Collins leading, we came across a set of Moguls that were not beginner friendly. As we gathered speed, one by one, bodies came flying past out of control including Lt Collins. I will remember until this day the look on his face as Clive Alison came hurtling past, gave him an immaculate salute and requested, "Permission to carry on Sir!". Lt. DJ Collins was speechless, an excellent man and always good for a laugh. I also remember going to Avimore where we must have spent at least one night there. It was the first time ever that I had slept with a Duvet for bedding. Snug as a bug in a rug or what? Great days and good memories. Thanks for that Bob.

2nd Clarinet

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Just remembered....

In the ration bag, we also got a...... hard boiled egg!!!! in its shell.

RAB
For us, this was the first time WE had been abroad!

Well done Twinks.....
Lt. Collins, yes, that's one of the house officers of the time.
And I take it that you were one of the 'Hut' residents?
What was it like in there for the week?

Stu, I think everyones skis came off due to the state of them and the bindings, but, as you recollect in your answer, some had more problems than others.

I remember a few of us trying our hand (and feet) at ice skating on the rink.
And also CURLING. Stan De-Gernier was there showing us what to do, (not that he was an expert himself, just that he was Scottish and felt he should).
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Hornblower

Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I never got to the heady heights of the slopes - but also remember the reactions to Clive Alison's salute!! Funny man that Clive, didn't he become a Booty?

Bugger - the things that are in the old grey stuff that would never, ever come back if it wasn't for the prompts on this forum - keep 'em coming Bob and Brian.

(How do they remember all that stuff?

)

MrJpig

bootybandy

Done, bloody foreign names. Why can't they stick to easy places like Pengarnddu and Tonyrefail .

Hornblower

Oooooh - Gooood comeback!!

MrJpig

Not that good......Bob got the lodge name right FIRST TIME ...3rd time lucky BB

(only being smug cos I used to work there)

PS would you mind not spitting so much it`s messing up the inside of my moniter!!

bootybandy

MrJpig

Hornblower

FORMLOH

2nd Clarinet

Let's see if we can come up with a list of people who went on this trip....

The already mentioned......

Hornblower
Bootbandy
2nd Clarinet
Mogs Capewell
Stan De-Gernier
Lt Collins
Clive Alison

I'm now adding.....

Jock Appleby
Graham Hitchins

Hornblower

Bloody hell - I can't even remember who I shared a chalet with!!!!

2nd Clarinet

2nd Clarinet

townsergeant

I was there and had the 'luxury' of staying in the Aviemore Centre

(I also managed about 4/5 other trips whilst under training)

Best skiing trip was to Switzerland, April 1973...(over to you Bootybandy!)

bootybandy

Normandy Hell..........
That was the name of the bottled beer that was as strong as a mule on Steroids. Three bottles of that Bill and I was swimming in the local fountain. Davos was the very posh ski resort we ended up at if you remember Bill. Nowadays only Royalty and the like go there. Come to think of it, we were Royal at the time.

Another escapade was the Summer leave expedition to North Africa when Brian Walker, Brian Goldsmith and moi, tried to hitch-hike to north Africa. We got as far as a lovely town on the French coast just before the Spanish border before Messr Walker had a dodgy tooth that needed attention if I remember correctly. So we got on the train and straight back. I've still got a picture of the three B's wearing Scottish Bonnets doing dead ant impersonations. I will try and dig them out and get them posted. Ooohhh... weren't we young!!!

townsergeant

Happy days!

(and don't forget the Y!)

2nd Clarinet

admin

The School of Music are off to Bavaria shortly on Adventure Training to do a spot of winter sports... I know most of the old and bold went to Loch Ewe so don't be too upset as it is colder there!

get your 3B pics out Botty