Hislop family ice skating collection, 1940-2021

Clarence “Clary” Hislop was born on November 6, 1914 in Sydney, Australia to a figure skating family, and began skating at the Sydney Glaciarium, where he became an instructor in 1934. In his early career, Clarence taught in both Australia and England, and competed internationally in figure skating competitions. In Sydney, Clarence met his wife, Fayette “Fay” Shirley Hislop, who was born there in 1919 and was also a figure skater. The couple emigrated in 1938 from Australia to Scotland via boat, but World War II disrupted their plans to manage an ice rink in Edinburgh. The couple continued on to Canada, and taught across the country there until they reached Vancouver, British Columbia, from which they moved to Seattle, Washington, United States on a teaching contract in the 1940s.

Clarence and Fay Hislop first taught figure skating in Seattle at the Civic Ice Arena (later renamed Mercer Arena). In 1950, alongside business partners James and Dorothy Stephens, the couple leased and operated the Ballard Ice Arena until its closure in 1978. Throughout their Seattle career, the Hislops coached many young figure skaters, including World team members Peter and Karol Kennedy and Tommy Moore, as well as the Dorsey Sisters, Frances Dorsey and Sherry Dorsey Cook. Fay and Clarence also produced and directed the Shrine Ice Carnival in 1945 and the Seattle Skating Club Ice Parade in 1964.

Clarence and Fay’s only son, Bradley Craig Hislop, was born in approximately the late 1940s in Seattle, Washington. He became a competitive figure skater himself as a member of the Seattle Skating Club. Brad earned a U.S. Figure Skating Championships national title in Junior Ice Dance in 1968 with partner Joan Bitterman, with whom he trained under Jean Westwood in Vancouver, British Columbia. In other years, Brad earned silver, bronze, and pewter medals at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with both Bitterman and later partner Debbie Ganson. Brad competed at the 1969 World Figure Skating Championships with Bitterman and at the 1970 World Championships with Ganson, placing outside the top three at both competitions.

In 1955, Clarence Hislop was chosen for Sportspress Northwest’s annual Man of the Year Award (now known as “Sports Star of the Year”) in recognition for his contributions to the sport of ice skating at Ballard Ice Arena. Clarence and Fay Hislop lived in Seattle the rest of their lives, having gained U.S. citizenship. Clarence passed away on April 1st, 1982 at the age of 67, and Fay died on December 26th, 2013 at the age of 94.