On the Sunday after we returned from the 2024 Ski Trip, we received the devastating news that our friend and long-term Ski Notley instructor Will Myers had passed away after a short illness. Will was a huge part of Ski Notley over the best part of the last decade. Anyone who knew him and were taught by him will know just how big.

In 2015, Dave and Jen, our other long-term ski guides, were looking for another person to help with our annual school trip, and recommended their colleague Will. “Are you sure he will fit in?” we asked. “Absolutely” was the reply. So…Will came on board. Right from the off, he was the missing jigsaw piece for our puzzle.

Will knew more about skiing than most of us will ever learn. More importantly, he knew how to pass his knowledge on to our students. That’s not a given. Plenty of top-class skiers have no clue how to teach. Will had that gift. Well over a hundred of our students owe their “ski legs” to Will.

He should have been skiing with us this year. He should have been coaching the beginners in their initial tentative runs, and watching them blossom over the week into confident, proficient skiers through his advice and guidance. Like he always did. He was an awesome coach. And I don’t use that word lightly. But the universe intervened. We learned that he had pulled out from the trip just a few short days before we were supposed to leave. We knew he must have been ill to not come with us – he had been asking me about the trip for almost a year – but we didn’t know how ill.

Will passed away while we were on the trip.

Personally, I will miss his presence. I will miss him skiing past my camera, asking to see the photos, and then bemoaning his own technique. It was always great. It was never good enough for him. I genuinely hope that wherever he is, the powder is deep, the pistes are freshly prepared, and he has all the time he needs to get his knees that little bit closer to the floor in the turns. Just one more run…

With the blessing of his family, we have instituted the Will Myers Award in his memory, to be given to the most outstanding student on each ski trip. That can mean anything – skiing ability, progress, resilience, kindness – whatever makes them really stand out.

This year, the award is presented to Rhiannon Foster in Year 11. Miss Trafford said it best. “She is wonderfully kind, helping people throughout the trip, both on the slopes and off them. She was in the top group but was never cocky or arrogant about it and was always supportive of others.” That sums up perfectly what Will was like as an instructor. Kind, helpful, supportive, skilful but never arrogant. And by coincidence Rhiannon was taught by Will in 2020.

From Lily, our Head Ski Guide “I was really impressed with her skiing when I skied with top group. You would never think she had only had 1 week on snow before! Will did good”. He did. He always did.

We hope he would approve.

Chris Rowe (Geek),Trip Leader

Her citation:

Dearest Rhiannon,

We are so honoured for you to receive this first ever Will Myers Award.

We will always be sad that Will did not get to teach you and the other Notley students on your 2024 trip, but we are so pleased that he first taught you as a beginner back in 2020.

We know that Will would have been so proud of the progress that you have made since then, not just as a skier but also in your care and support for others.

Thank you for embodying the values that Will believed in and may you continue to take these forward with you.

With best wishes

From the Myers family