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Springhill Ice rink Summerhill Road

This is a photo my friend gave me she thinks it's about 1952 at Springhill Ice Rink. Hope someone recognises themselves.
Jenny_3.jpg
 
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I skated there in 1952 and the nice photo brings back memories from long ago. The ice dance club had regular children's parties and fancy dress. Thinking back it cost 2/- (10p) to get in the rink.
 
Here is another the same year. Apparently Robin Cousins is on one of the photo's but I don't know where.

Jenny_2.jpg
 
Former Mohawk said:
The missing one is John Woodcock
Click to expand...
Yes you are correct about my name and I knew you as the youngest of three brothers. After I put the names in that photo I remembered John's surname after I posted it. I also noticed that I had Barry Casserley's name wrong, but have got it correct in another photo - such a long time ago! Looking at today's speed skating in the Olympics I notice the barriers are padded, the ice is perfect for each race, and they wear gloves and helmets. Looking at the ice we skated on in some of my photos, it is more like frozen slush on pavements and I remember falling on rough dry ice gave nasty grazes. These days it all looks so professional and in comparison I suppose we were amateurs, but maybe we had more fun.
 
Thanks Phil, trust you are good. Not sure you know but Brian passed away over 10 years ago now. That was the last time I saw or heard from Eric, at Brian's funeral. John Woodcock was Brian's brother in law. If your on Facebook please feel free to check me out. Kindest regards Bob Grinsell. PS: I can't ever remember you falling. You were the original 'pocket rocket'
 
Hello Bob - Yes I did know about Brian, I think it was mentioned somewhere in the thread. Nice to see your pic. Have a look at the post if you haven't already done so. As you are probably aware all the forum pics before Oct 2011 were lost in a hack attack.
Phil
 
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Former Mowhawk (Bob) - Brian Grinsell actually died over 20 years ago. Yes that was the last time we saw or heard of you too, I was 18.
 
Hi Phil, I am back ? One more Ex Mohawk passed way last week Ron Saddler, skated with both the Mohawks 1940s & the Birmingham Barons IHC 1960s this info past to me via Art Hambrige. Hope you are keeping well Regards Keith.
 
morning mowhwk ;
My old friend pete whom was with the skating team whom i see quite often every week i will memntionion it to him
about ron sadlers death tonight as i will be seeing him
Incidently do you or any other member of the skating fans at the rink or ladywoodites
recall a man whom spent seven days and nights for charity on top of the building in a barrel for charity
I lived around the corner in kingedwards rd and seen him up there
does anybody knows what charity he did it for i wonder how he managed his toileties needs
does anybody recall his name
best wishes Astonian; alan;;;
 
Hello Alan - Have a look at the forum post here there is a pic of him in his barrel...and in the other post there is a link to a Pathe Film of him.
oldmohawk (phil)
 
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Hi phil
many thanks for that its a cracking picture
we used to walk around every day to see if he stood the pace and at week ends my mates and myself
would stand for about twenty minutes and he would be shouting aloud as we could to him
i do not think he could actualy under stand what we was shouting but he would wave back to us
we all thought from day one he would not survive the couple of nights but he proved us wrong
after all it was a good course yeh; lets face it though that barrel was not much bigger than those old cheese barrels
from the old days ;the ones they delivered cheese in for grocers after the war
and they would dig it ouit and used a cheese wire to cut you a block off along with the butter patters
when you bought butter and put it on scales
my old mate was a butter packer at old wrensons we used to take the micky out of him in the pub ;
have a good dfay phil and thanks again for the info; alan; astonian;;
 
Went ot ice rink on Thursday afternnons and on Sat Night Used to tip toe out acctrs the road to the PUB Had to pass inspection so the doorman could see that you did not have hired skates on. Also went roller skating at athe Embassy and met my wife Audrey there....... Thursday aftern00ns wer a day off from work as BSA was on short time due to Cranfords of Smathwick who made mudguards being on Strike so BSA could not keep working full time without enough mudguards coming thru. Would have to be 1948 or 1949 Got married in 1951 Old Joe
 
Only just seen this post is that your dad Eric Grinsell ? ask him if he remembers Keith Jenney we skated together back in the late 50s .If I am correct please wish him well from me All the very best.
 
[video=youtube;U7YKgii7Q9g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U7YKgii7Q9g#t=15[/video]
Try this in your back yard Springhill oldies lol
 
hi keith i love that video..i watched it a few times when it was first made...my thing was rollar skating but i think its great that you can still do it i could never get the hang of ice skating...brill and fair play to you..

lyn
 
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Hi all you old skaters from the old Birmingham rink Hope you are all well. about time we had some more posts there must be more photos out there we have not seen
Regards THE BARON
 
The Baron said:
Hi all you old skaters from the old Birmingham rink Hope you are all well. about time we had some more posts there must be more photos out there we have not seen
Regards THE BARON
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now heres a tale from those old days. Eric Grinsell had a younger brother called Bobby Grinsell. He was going out out with a girl called Pat Harrison. She was secretary of Nottingham speed skaters supporters club. For some reason they finished and I ended up going with her for two years. I was skating for the Mohawks. Lost touch when I went north to become Assistant Manager at Manchester Ice Rink 1966. Often wondered what happened to her. She was a lovely girl. However like all of us she ll be abit older now !
Phil Duncan.
 
Shame I have no photo's, just wonderful memoires of skating at Spring Hill Ice Rink on Wednesday nights and Sunday's. A good friend in the Mohawks and some very close friends at the time. Incidentally, I still have the original ice skates.
 
Hi whats your name as I see Arthur from time to time Iam sure he would like to know who you are
REGARDS
Keith
 
Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone has any photos of the rink, particularly the ice dancing sessions, in the 30s or 40s.

My mum-in-law Rene Taylor (nee Bocock) will be 100 next week and her fondest memories are of her skating days.She met her late Husband Don Taylor at the rink, having tried out quite a few male partners previously and found most of them to be shorter than her! They achieved their bronze medal together but Don didn't want to go further, probably because it took some of the fun out of it.

I think I've found them both in the far bottom right of the 'National Anthem' photo (Post #118 and Gallery #414) which thrilled her enormously but she is convinced that numerous photos were taken of them in competitions and other times.

Otherwise, is there somewhere else I should look for information?

Many thanks for any help,

Joyce
 
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