Valda Osborn
Valda Rosemary Foggin ( Osborn; 17 September 1934 – 28 December 2022) was a British figure skater. She was the 1953 European champion and World bronze medalist. Osborn represented her country at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway, where she placed 11th. Early life Osborn was born in Wembley, Middlesex on 17 September 1934. During the Second World War, she moved to Richmond (then in Surrey), and lived close to Richmond Bridge, a short walk to Richmond Ice Rink. She had private tutors for her schooling. Career Osborn started skating, aged 2½, at Wembley Ice Rink. She was taught by Arnold Gerschwiler, who was her only coach during her entire amateur career. At age 5, Osborn won her first competition for "Under Sixes". During the Second World War, the Wembley rink was closed to save electricity. She moved to the Richmond Ice Rink, the only rink left open during the war. At 9½ years she passed the NSA gold medal at Richmond Ice Rink on 6 June 1944 (D-Day). She was the youngest skater to pass her Gold and continues to hold the record. Osborn continued skating at Richmond during and after the war. She became the British national