Stuart Parkinson

Stuart Parkinson was a dual skiing and bobsleigh Olympian. He started as a downhill skier just after World War II, and after finishing third in the British Championships in 1948 was selected for the St. Moritz Olympics. A lieutenant in the Royal Engineers at the time, he finished runner-up to fellow Olympian John Boyagis in the British Army Downhill Championship. Parkinson enjoyed a memorable year in 1950, when he won the British slalom and combined titles, and just two weeks later, competed in the British 4-man bob team in the Lowlander’s Championship at Val d’Isère. He also won the first of three Cambridge University Skiing Blues in 1950, and was to later captain the team. He was runner-up in the British combined event in 1951. Having competed in the 1955 World Bobsleighing Championships, Parkinson gained selection for both the Great Britain 2- and 4-man teams at Cortina in 1956, when he was the British flagbearer. He went on to enjoy his finest bobsleighing moment in 1958 when, with his 1956 Olympic partner Christopher Williams, he won the first ever Commonwealth Winter Games 2-man bob title, representing England.