Iskate: Streatham ice arena

As I think back, and get extremely excited, over starting the new ice skating term at the end of this month, I also have to reflect on the times that I spent ice skating at Streatham. though it was a pit. And I mean a miserable disaster of the remains to a building, the ceiling was peeling off, you could catch an STI sitting on the toilet seat and I once saw a rat ( yes I know they are everywhere, but this one had surfaced indoors), so I never ate from there again. I also think of all the people I've met, talked to and been friends with. now it's gone for a while and by the time that it's built up again, I'll probably be on to other things and it's hardly likely that I will be skating there anymore. So I commemorate this post to the old Streatham ice arena.

It opened it's door and south London to the world of ice skating in 1931. Over the years it has coached some of London's most talented ( I should know, I am amidst them), including it's home Hockey team. The redskins, one of London's, if not one of Britain's best ice Hockey teams. Sadly after a strong eighty year run, the building had to be demolished to make way for a new leisure centre, that will still be hosting an ice rink, but the focus seems to be that there will be a Tesco built into it. I don't know if that is really anything to celebrate. however the idea that ice skating could possibly become a work out at the gym and a swim too is rather exciting to me. So on Sunday the 18th of December 2011, Streatham held their closing gala. where many of it's talented figure skaters, ice dancers and hockey players, skated on possibly the Ice the first skated on for the last time. undoubtedly, an emotional time for all, but as we say goodbye, we can remember all the skaters that have come and gone with the rink. from those who first came to Streatham at the age of twelve, skating for the first time in 1931 to those who are more recent passers, who maybe began skating a year ago and already consider the ice their home and those who go to the ice rink her family.