Peri Victoria HORNE

Peri Horne started skating at the age of seven, and in November 1949, at the age of 17, teamed up with her long-term pairs partner, Ray Lockwood. Three months later, the duo finished second in the junior pairs competition at the Empire Pool, Wembley, their first major event together. They never won a senior British title, but were unfortunate to be around at the time when Jennifer and John Nicks reigned supreme, and won the British title every year from 1948-53. Horne and Lockwood finished 10th at the 1952 World Championships, and finished a creditable fifth in that years’ European Championships. They had another fifth place, in the 1953 Worlds, and might have won a medal but were penalized when Lockwood touched the ice with his hand while attempting a difficult low spin. At the age of 22 Horne turned her attention to becoming a professional skating instructress at the Queen’s Ice Club in Bayswater, and one of her best known pupils was the then 10-year-old Diane Towler.