Peter Lunn 1914-2011

British Ski and Snowboard were greatly saddened to hear that former British Alpine Ski team member Peter Lunn has died aged 97. 

Peter Lunn, CMG, OBE. Born 15 November 1914. Died 30th November 2011. 

As son of Britain's ski pioneer, Arnold Lunn, Peter Lunn was put on skis shortly before his second birthday and was still racing into his nineties.  Brought up mostly in the Alps, he took part in international ski races, often beating competitors several times his age.

He was made a member of the Kandahar Ski Club at its foundation when he was just 10 years old and captained the British Ski Team at the first Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936.

He admitted that he was too worried about his responsibilities to do well in that event but later that year he came 9th in the World Alpine Ski Championships.  He took a fast and accurate line on a steep, narrow and icy downhill track lined with tree stumps, down which many of the international racers fell.

In 1939 he married Antoinette Preston, daughter of Viscount Gormanston of County Meath, Ireland and they had six children.

During the second world war Peter Lunn served in the Army and spent some months in Malta while it was heavily bombed and the island earned the George Cross for its bravery.   He wrote an article comparing the feelings of a downhill racer before competing, with the feelings of one suffering heavy bombardment.

He wrote several books, including "The Guinness Book of Skiing", which gives an admirable history of skiing as well as a broad view of the sport.   He also wrote for the Ski Club of Great Britain's publications on the history of skiing, ski technique and the different qualities of snow.   He loved to ski offpiste where a knowledge of powder, ice and breakable crust were was helpful to his readers.

His job in life for MI6 was invaluable though he never spoke about it.  He had given an oath of secrecy when he joined the service and it was typical of him that the oath was never broken.

BSS send sincere condolences to Peter's family and friends.