Geoffrey Sidney YATES

Learning to skate only at age 11, Geoffrey Yates competed at the 1936 Winter Olympics as a 17-year-old, together with his brother Ernest, who rode in the pairs competition. For both brothers, it was their only appearance at a major international tournament. Yates, who was a bank clark, served as a Royal Marine in World War II. Fighting among others during the Normandy invasion, he was eventually promoted to major. While retaining his job at the bank, Yates was also active as a figure skating judge and referee.