Iris Lloyd Webb was born in June 1941 and was brought up in Southampton. Her childhood home, by coincidence, was later to become my own home. She attended nearby Woolston School, with Brian Cox, who was to feature in her early skating life.
In the early 1950’s they both started skating at the newly opened Southampton Ice Rink and with others took part in “Icelahoma”, the first Southampton Christmas Ice Show. Iris excelled at ice dance and Brian became her first ice dance partner.
Iris loved her skating so much that she decided to make it her career, choosing a coaching path and re-locating to The Westover Rink, in Bournemouth.
From there Iris went on to Streatham and Queens. It was at the latter that she achieved her greatest successes, in coaching many skaters who went on to have successful careers themselves.
Iris also continued competing, entering the World Professional Championships, first with David Clements and finally, in 1968, winning the World Professional Championships with her former pupil, Michael Webster.
At this time Iris made lifelong friendships with some of her pupils and other skaters, becoming Godmother to their children.
It was while at Queen’s that Iris met her husband, James Miller, who was working in London a few days a week. James was from a prominent Scottish family, his father was a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh and also Lord Mayor of London.
Iris gave up her skating career to spend her life with James and making her home in Edinburgh where they raised their family.
Iris’s skating friends have told me of the love and affection they have for the lady they remember fondly as a truly lovely person. Iris had suffered a stroke and had not been in good health for some time.
Iris Miller died on 6th August at The Murrayfield Care Home in Edinburgh and is survived by her husband, son, three daughters and grandchildren.
The funeral will take place at 11am on 27th August at The Lorimer Chapel, Warriston Crematorium, 36 Warriston Road, Edinburgh EH7 4HW. Family flowers only have been requested.
Elaine Hooper
British Ice Skating Historian