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Where is This 33

Phil

Phil

Gone, but not forgotten.
As we seem to be getting a little ambiguous with these little posers, I thought I would give this a try.

So what and where is this?

EdgbastonRollerRinkpreTower.jpg
 
Swimming baths.

Difficult to say where as they were built to a format in the 20's. Could be Kings Heath.
 
Not Bingley Hall, not a swimming bath, and not an "ice" rink. but yes is is a roller rink, but where?

Phil
 
Is it the Waldorf? I only went the once [with my wife to be as it turned out] and I was concentrating more on my girl's legs in her short short skirt - well it was the late 50's and you took your pleasure when you could. Sadly I was carp and she was a budding speed skater.
 
Sorry it wasn't the Embassy / Walford. I was surpised myself to discover this place started life as a roller rink.

Phil
 
motorman mike,

You are right, did you know it used to be a roller rink because I had not got a clue until I saw this snap.

Phil
 
No Phil I didn't, it was really a lucky guess, it was the bandstand on the right put me in mind of the Tower Ballroom layout.

Mike
 
Is / was it the Mecca Olympic rink in Spring Hill?
From :https://www.inlinespeed.co.uk/news/20070115_1.html

"By now a new rink had opened in Birmingham. The Mecca Olympic in Springhill. With it came a new club, Midland Olympic. The club consisted of breakaway members from the old Birmingham Roller Speed Club and included the likes of World medallist Les Woodley and World Champion to be, Danny Kelly. In such highly rated company Leon Goodchild would soon be looking to better his own achievements.
In 1958 he set new British Records for 10, 15 and 20 miles and a new 1 hour record. In 1959 he again set new records for these distances adding 25, 50 and the maximum 100 miles to his ever increasing tally.
With a string of long distance British Records under his belt, by 1960 Leon had his sights firmly set on establishing a World Record. There were bigger and faster rinks now throughout the country, Brixton being the most popular for record attempts. However, as it had been for all his previous records, Leon was determined that Birmingham should be the venue. He knew the rink inside and out, and after all, he was a Brummie! In June 1960, all the training and preparation had been done and Leon stepped onto the Embassy rink with a view to conquering the world. And he did just that.
In those days measurements were taken both as imperial and metric, and Leon set World Records for 30km, 50km and 100km and 25, 30, 50 and 100 miles. Averaging over 19 miles per hour for the 25 miles and an almost unbelievable 18 miles per hour for 100 miles on roller skates on a 200 metre lap rink was a truly remarkable feat of both physical and mental endurance. Remember, these were the days of cup and cone bearings and wooden wheels, just over 2 inches in diameter!
These records stood for the next 10 years, but as true testament to just how remarkable this achievement was, Leon’s record for the 50km still stands to this day as a British Track Record, some 47 years on!"
 
Curse, it was won while I was researching!
I learnt some interesting facts about roller skating, anyway.
 
nice one phil. i have just learned something new. i am still looking for an inside shot of springhill rollar rink. ive only got pics of when it was ice. a bit before my time. wales
 
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