Andrew Morgan
It is my melancholy duty to inform you that Andrew Morgan (1934 – 2026), who was the first Brit to ski in three Winter Olympic games, died peacefully at his Gloucestershire home on Saturday 6th June surrounded by his family. The Club sends its heartfelt condolences to his wife Karen, children Judy, Nick, Jen and Tim and to all his family at this sad time.
Andrew was British Langlauf Champion in 1956 and again in 1957 when, as the only civilian competitor in a field of 191, he won the 16km race by no less than 8 minutes. A year before in 1956 he had been the youngest member of the British langlauf team at the 1956 Olympics in Cortina and fastest Brit in both 30km and 4 x 10km relay.
In 1960 as a Cambridge undergraduate he represented GB in the Squaw Valley Olympics and the following month set a new British record in the 86km Swedish Vasalop of 9 hrs 1 min.
As a young father and Shell International employee, Andrew fought his way back into the British langlauf team for the 1964 Olympics in Innsbruck finishing second of the four Brits in the 15km.
He converted to downhill skiing in the late 1960s visiting Murren for the first time in 1968 and joining Kandahar Ski Club in 1970. In 1973 he was the fastest British skier in the Inferno.
I had the pleasure of writing this letter, as Club Chairman, to Andrew on 16th June 2010. I think it sums up his contributions to the Kandahar Ski Club.
Your contributions to British skiing and our Club have been enormous, both on and off snow. Your selection for three British winter Olympic teams between 1956 and 1964 was an extraordinary achievement.
Our Club owes you an enormous debt of gratitude, not only for the years of service but also for how you have served throughout those years, I will come back to that in a moment. Your service record though four decades is truly remarkable:-
Vice Chairman 1976 – 1978
Honorary Treasurer 1991 – 1997
Chairman 1997 – 2001
President 1999 – 2004
Your enormous effort in the writing of “The Inferno Story” has been appreciated by us all and has been read by skiing Inferno enthusiast across Europe.
On behalf the Club thank you for all that you have done and continue to do.”
In closing, Andrew was the inspiration for the commissioning of our Centenary Book and a much-loved member; he will be deeply missed.
Cleeves Palmer DL.
