1. Where did Torvill and Dean begin their skating career?
From Quiz Go For Gold: The Phenomenal Torvill and Dean
Answer:
Nottingham
Specifically, they skated at the Nottingham Ice Stadium.
By 1975, almost seventeen-year-old Jayn Torvill and fifteen-year-old Christopher Dean were already experienced competitors. Chris had won the British Primary Championships and the Junior Dance Championships with Sandra Elson, while Jayne and her first partner, Michael Hutchenson, were Junior Champions and then runners up at the seniors before winning the British Championship.
According to Chris, it was his stepmother who first suggested to his father that he should be paired with Jayne, since they were both currently without partners. Mr. Dean took some convincing, as did skating champion turned coach Janet Sawbridge, but in the end, with the agreement of Mr. And Mrs. Torvill, what would prove to be an inspired piece of skating matchmaking was made.
The chemistry between Jayne and Chris was apparent almost at once, though it would take years of unrelenting work and dedication to refine it into the signature Torvill and Dean magic.
"Within a few months we were placed in a couple of club competitions, and began to look ahead. First we would take the inter-gold-medal test... which was the exam requirement for national competition set by the National Skating Association. We had to have it to enter the 1976 British championships.
"Along the way, Janet said she was putting us forward for selection for two competitions in Europe, in Oberstdorf...Germany, and St Gervais, in France...long-established stepping-stones for would-be senior competitors on the route to major international championships." ("Facing the Music" p.p. 35-6)
As for the Nottingham Ice Stadium, in 1993 construction began on a new national ice center to replace the old stadium. The new facility opened in 2000, with the surrounding area named Bolero Square in honor of Torvill and Dean and their achievement.