Following the success of the inaugural Fruiterers Ski trip in 2023, a group of 50 Fruiterers and their guests hit the slopes of Cervinia in the Italian Alps from April 16th to 21st. Renter Warden Chris Newenham was there and shares his highlights of another successful venture.
As with last year, the trip was expertly curated by the Immediate Past Master Matt Hancock, who has an uncanny knack of making these trips (and indeed the herding of cats more generally) look easy! Despite travelling at the back end of the ski season, the weather was kind to our group, with a liberal sprinkling of powder most nights helping to lubricate the skis. The group was a diverse bunch, both in age and skiing expertise, but the nature of the activity was such that there was something to keep everyone occupied and having fun.
Once again, the accommodation throughout the trip was the wonderful Les Neiges D’Antan, where the food is both sumptuous and plentiful and the late-night après ski challenging to the lighter-weight amongst the group (myself very much included). The spa facilities were also just the tonic following a day on the slopes, with the ultimate challenge being to last in the icy plunge pool for longer than 10 seconds. Well, that and to avert one’s eyes while Liveryman Clive was on parade! The hotel also boasts the most magnificent wine cellar, which has been put together lovingly by four successive generations of the same family.
It would seem that beyond raising our IPM through his teenage years, Cervinia has quite a lot to answer for within our ranks. We found out that it was where Liveryman Nick Dunn first learned to ski and perhaps more importantly where Liveryman John Shropshire brought his girlfriend skiing before they became engaged six weeks later. While the youngest member of our group, Lewis Borley, used the opportunity to learn to ski proficiently, the most senior member, Richard Beach (who was skiing with both son George and grandson Henry – who incidentally makes the most delicious chocolate, check out “the slabb”), was keen to ensure that he left most of us trailing in his wake on both the slopes and in the bar.
There were many notable moments over the course of the week but chief amongst them were the celebration of Liveryman Mark Culley’s 60th birthday (twice in one day for good measure!) and the Chilean contingent and IPM sharing a gift of the very finest Beluga caviar for all to enjoy (apparently it’s best served at body temperature and eaten off the back of one’s hand).
The skiing, it goes without saying, was outstanding, with a few even managing to venture as far as Zermatt in neighbouring Switzerland. Liveryman John Valentine managed to provide an excellent demonstration of near-perfect on-slope technique while lying down (see pic below), and I have to admit yours truly may also have succumbed to an excess of speed and lack of talent at one or two junctures – though the least said about that the better!
Fortunately, the week ended with minimal damage overall and many new friendships formed and cemented. We are already looking forward to the next instalment in 2025.
