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Springhill Ice rink Summerhill Road

Bob Johnson said:
Does anyone remember the World Record Pole Sitting that took place outside the Roller Rink. It was a pole about 30 foot in height with a barrel secured to the top, inside would sit a "nutter" trying to break the world record. I seem to remeber he was up there for weeks.
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yes, it was johnny stokes, i think he lasted about 42 days,then he came down and skated round the rink
 
I remember that event only from the newspapers though. Hi Debbie it's nice to have someone in the family achieve something! It must have been quite a feat. Did it get into the Guiness Book? I see you are in Lutterworth my family originated from there. My gt grandfather came to Lozells in 1853!:)
 
Wendy said:
I remember that event only from the newspapers though. Hi Debbie it's nice to have someone in the family achieve something! It must have been quite a feat. Did it get into the Guiness Book? I see you are in Lutterworth my family originated from there. My gt grandfather came to Lozells in 1853!:)
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yes it did make it into the guiness book.Crikey fancy your family originating from little lutterworth.
 
Hi Phil, I to have many thing in my loft from my past just cannot seem to let go so many HAPPY MEMORIES of the old ice rink.
You say you have a reel to reel tape recorder & so do I do you remember the old GRUNDIG TK20? My dad got mine from a shop on the lichfield Rd ASTON.
Stil have all my Hockey gear & my speed skates plus All Nottingham Panthers Programes covering the 1950s.
Villa programes form way back up to today.
I think it is nice to have your memory jogged every time you go up and get the Christmas Decoratiopns out for another year.
so many great day & old pals to remember.
By the way i will be seeing Art Hambridge today & I bet we will have many old ice rink stories to recall.
 
Hi Keith,
Yes, it's amazing what we keep in our lofts. I've still got my speed and hockey skates, I sometimes wonder why I keep them but they bring back memories of good times, although I haven't looked at them this year. I've still got some old programs. I had a model aeroplane I kept for 20 years before I chucked it, and I've still got my first computer a Commodore Vic 20. The Ice Rink thread has gone a bit quiet lately but not all the old skaters are looking at the forum - it took me some time to find it way back in 2007.
I've looked in the Nottingham area - but nothing and of course the old Notts ice rink we remember has been replaced.
Phil :)
 
Yes Phil, when you think of the number of folks that packed the old rink on Sat nights, more guys would have posted once they find this site.
by the way Art send his regards, he tells me Pete Jennings has been in Hospital down in Brighton for some weeks now, lets hope he is soon well and back home.
Back on the subject of ice rinks, the skaters of this generation are so lucky with most big citys & town having rinks with HOCKEY & SPEED CLUBS (I BET THEY DO NOT HAVE THE GREAT TIMES WE HAD, SUCH GREAT PALS)
Keith THE BARON
 
Hi Keith,
Thanks to Art for sending his regards. I'm sorry to hear about Pete Jennings, hope he gets well. He had a wonderful skating style - I think I tried to copy it. I remember a trip with him on the 'Sleeper Night Train' from New Street to Glasgow in 1956, didn't get much sleep, and then had to travel on to Ayr Ice Rink for the competition that night.
Happy Days
Phil
 
Phill did that Ayr trip by over night coach one friday night in order to play 7pm on the Saturday than back to Brum sunday am.
Even went to sunday practice Springhill, how mad keen we must have been in our mad youth! as you say happy days
 
Keith - Yes we put up with few 'hardships' in those days. I once went to Berlin and back by train, through 'iron curtains' etc. The train I caught in Rotterdam went all the way to Moscow, glad I got off in Berlin ! These days it would probably be airlines and limos. A photo at the open air Berlin Rink is shown below.
I was just wondering whether Pete Jennings has seen the photos of him we have posted on here, but although one can 'view' the forum, he would have to register to see photos.
Phil
Berlin_1967_c.jpg
 
Yes Phil, I will ask Art when next we speak, I printed off all the photos on this tread and put them into an album of memoiries for Arthur, he tells me he has shown every one how comes to see him, so next time Pete is up in this area hope he will get to see them ,all being well?
 
Hello Keith. i showed Al the new posts on here but apart from Al Hambridge he can remember very little. Al phone my Al on his birthday and [my Al] was so pleased to hear from him. Give him our regards next time you see him. Sorry to hear Pete isn't very well. Miriam.
 
Hi Miriam, can Al put a Name to the guy with him in this photo I think it was taken on WYNDLEY POOL SUTTON PARK.
As when I showed it to Art he asked is ANY ONE NEW???
Keith THE BARON
 
Hello Keith, The most Al cam recall is that it was a friend named "Graham Williams" {dead now] His parents had a Toy Shop by the Capital Cinema - Alum Rock.

I think he told me once the shop was at the RaddlLeys. He can't remember.

Al at the moment has the most dreadful toothache and I will be taking him to the dentist tomorrow.

Miriam.
 
Hi folks,This pic of Art & Aurdry Hambidge was taken on my last viist .
more memories to be mulled over of our Skating days at Springhill & Solihull.
He asked me to say Hi too Miriam & Al Banner.
 
Hello Baron. We are delighted to see the photograph of Audrey and Arthur - it's been a long time since we last saw them. Give them our regards. Happy memories. Miriam & Al
 
I know it may only be the 1st of DECEMBER but I would like to wish all you SPRINGHILL skaters of yestoyear a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
If any one who skated at the old Birmingham rink & not post memories please do so, as you can see you will be among friends.
 
evening all. we too would like to wish all the 'old mohawks' a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Miriam and Al:)
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from this 'oldmohawk' to all who skated at Spring Hill. Remember the Christmas Eve's with mistletoe, and the New Year's eve parties, ending with 'auld-lang-syne'.:)
 
Very Happy Christmas to everyone who skated at the old rink. I still have so many memories of those days even though it was a long time ago.
Best wishes for 2010. :) Maureen
View attachment 40620

  • Christmas 1954
 
Members of the Ice Dance Club at the old ice rink probably remember Dianne Towler and Bernard Ford. A nice video clip of them skating at the long gone old Nottingham Ice Rink here.
https://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=44438
It was nice to see that old ice rink which I often visited.
The are also other ice dance video clips of them on the 'britishpathe' site.
oldmohawk:)
 
Phil that brings back so many happy nights at the ICE STADIUM NOTTINGHAM, Went every friday night with Ray walpole to see hockey with the Nottingham Panthers, BARONS Played one Sunday morning against Chic Zamicks young team in that great stadium.
Thanks Phil amuch loved time in my life.
 
Hi Keith,
Yes it's nice to see that old Nottingham Ice Stadium which a lot of us from Brum use to visit. I believe it has now been replaced by a new Ice Arena. I've found a clip of a relay race between Aldwych, B'ham Mohawks, and Berlin at Richmond Ice Rink. Jackie Dymock, sadly no longer with us, was on form that night to win for Aldwych. I just love the commentries and music from those old clips. the link is here.....
https://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=40937
Phil
 
YET MORE MEMORIES Phil, USED TO GO WITH THE MOHAWKS COACH DOWN TO RICHMOND BUT I WOULD CARRY ON TO WEMBLY TO SEE THE LIONS PLAY WHO EVER WERE IN TOWN THAT NIGHT.THEN CATCH THE BUS BACK TO RICHMOND VIA EALING BROADWAY JUST ABOUT IN TIME TO GET THE RETURN TRIP BACK TO BRUM.
 
Phil via that site you posted I have just seen GB V GERMANY ICE HOCKEY MATCH 1933 PLUS A NUMBER OF OTHER GAMES FROM THE PAST.
THANKS FOR THE LINK.
Keith
 
Hi Keith,
So you missed the brilliant dances we used to have in the ice rink's Arosa Room after the racing... ;)
Can you remember the name of the local coach firm we used ? The coaches were light blue, I think...
For anyone interested in ice skating, pictures here of hundreds skating on a frozen lake during the harsh winter of 1947, in St James park, even a quick glimpse of 'Buck House' in the distance. If you type 'skating' in the search box, see fun and games on ice in the very cold winter of 1962/3, although you have to move through many pages to see them.
https://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=58158
 
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