Newsletters

Over the last 14 years I have spent my winters in Courchevel and in that time I have met some really interesting and memorable characters. Some of who have made more of an impression than others. Now I know making any sort of list is bound to create a reaction for any absentees. It is not a TOP 10 just a list of 10 in some sort of chronological order.
WARNING - the following article contains images of a more youthful nature.

Robert Muir – Now strictly this person has never been to Courchevel. He was the last “boss” I worked for. He is the one who I asked, after 5 years employment, that I wanted to leave and go and do a ski season. He is on this list because he didn’t say no.

Mitchell Miller – Mitch was the first manager of the English bars in 1850 I knew in the days when 1850 actually HAD a selection of English bars. The original bar L’equipe, TJs, Gringos and ISBA’s bar.

Rosy Cave – I first met Rosy she worked as a rep / ski guide for Bladon lines when I was a punter staying at the St Louis. By the time I did my first season she worked with Mitch in the English bars. In my second season she proposed I revived the seasonnaire newsletter. Without her there probably wouldn’t have been a Courchevel Enquirer. Include being an awesome skier with runs in the Freeride and a certain (undocumented) gold cat suit appearance in the Derby.

Richard Dixon Clarke – Legendary Gringos barman from my first season who I spent a lot of time playing (and losing) backgammon with. After his season he authored the legendary “Sex lines and love eggs“ article detailing the in and outs of bubble "romance".

Steve Dunsire – One of two Steves who took over from Mitch and Rosy and ran the English bars for many years. Steve, how can I put this, has a rather unique character, which cannot be done justice to with mere words. To know Steve is to love him. Just be careful if the subject of the conversation veers towards that of sexual nature.

Timmo & Janie – 2 people 1 hotel. Tim and Janie owned and ran the Hotel de la Croisette / Bar le Jump for 10 years. Single-handed making the Jump the centre of seasonnaire après ski. Their inspired choice of bar staff throughout the years and stories of antics on/around/under the king table have filled many columns of the enquirer.

Fred Wakefield – I’ve known Fred for an age. Primarily as resort manager for Inghams where he was always overly protective of his staff and luckily his colourful threats to “burn my car down” if I wrote anything about them never amassed to arson, they acted a sufficient deterent for some of the more minor escapades of his girls.

Olly Evans – In the days when the English bars in 1850 used to have theme nights Scott Dunn would usually have the largest turnout with Olly, their resort manager leading by example. Equally at home in drag in a little black dress or as a very blue smurf. Olly was also crazy enough to snowboard/mountain bike down almost anything including several years on the boss des bosses team. If only all managers were like this.

Jane Cummings - Is there any job Jane hasn’t done in Courchevel? From working for Skival followed by one of the estate agents in 1850 and currently doing PR (amoung other things) for the Kalico nightclub.

Jennifer Clare – From working as a ski tech for Freeride and then Ski Higher to working in TJ’s and then the Hotel Killimanjaro Jen has never been shy in appearing in the columns of the enquirer. From entering numerous races including the Derby, the Natives seasonnaire race, the brookie bowl. From winning the 3 valley rally a record 4 times to being an essential member of the Courchevel Boss des Bosses team there is little Jen won’t do on and off the piste. In my opinion if Courchevel was inhabited by more Jens then doing a season would be much the better.

The editor

Smells like team spirit

A warning to anyone who rents their apartment to seasonnaire workers. Looking at this second apartment which was inhabited by 3.5 workers BW,OP,EY and occasionally BdeN. Obviously the end of season deep clean was enough to remove the accumulated smell and detritus of these scruffs. The apartment has now had its windows removed and looks like it’s being completely gutted in an attempt to remove any remaining lingering odours.