Came on looking for references to the old rink.
Last night I went skating for the first time in about 30 years. At nearly 64 I was very cautious and pretty useless. But then I'm thinking about the old days.
I started going to Spring Hill in about 1962, survived with awful hire boots for the first year or so, then bought the boots I wore last night. Fagan Pathfinder & CCM hockey boots, cost £10. My pride & joy
.
Well last night both the boots and yours truly showed their age. The boots were almost useless and I was yearning to try the oh so much better hire skates that my daughter was wearing, next time I will. I have to get rid of the old classics now I think.
The good thing is that despite it being a quiet night at Solihull rink, the atmosphere was very much the same as in the old days at Spring Hill, the same sort of characters, the same split of capabilities, and the same fun and camaraderie. Really enjoyed being there, despite being a little long in the tooth.
Old Spring Hill was the place though, that and the rink in Nottingham which was very similar. Superb size and just great atmosphere. One of my memories is of the original Coca Cola machine when it was first installed. Glass bottles were dispensed. The game was to get one, take a few thirst quenching slugs then to go on the ice or around the perimeter shaking the bottle and squirting it at your mates or unsuspecting girls you fancied. Health and safety would have us hung drawn a quartered for that these days.
Oh, happy times.
Last night I went skating for the first time in about 30 years. At nearly 64 I was very cautious and pretty useless. But then I'm thinking about the old days.
I started going to Spring Hill in about 1962, survived with awful hire boots for the first year or so, then bought the boots I wore last night. Fagan Pathfinder & CCM hockey boots, cost £10. My pride & joy
.Well last night both the boots and yours truly showed their age. The boots were almost useless and I was yearning to try the oh so much better hire skates that my daughter was wearing, next time I will. I have to get rid of the old classics now I think.
The good thing is that despite it being a quiet night at Solihull rink, the atmosphere was very much the same as in the old days at Spring Hill, the same sort of characters, the same split of capabilities, and the same fun and camaraderie. Really enjoyed being there, despite being a little long in the tooth.
Old Spring Hill was the place though, that and the rink in Nottingham which was very similar. Superb size and just great atmosphere. One of my memories is of the original Coca Cola machine when it was first installed. Glass bottles were dispensed. The game was to get one, take a few thirst quenching slugs then to go on the ice or around the perimeter shaking the bottle and squirting it at your mates or unsuspecting girls you fancied. Health and safety would have us hung drawn a quartered for that these days.
Oh, happy times.
eaceful: