Recalling the rink

You won't forget it if you were present. The Durham Ice Rink served as the center of the city's social scene for many years. The riverside rink was the place to be, with everything from Friday night ice discos to Sunday crowds cheering on the Wasps, and a rich history of figure and speed skating.

Those recollections are still as vivid over thirty years after the ice was removed and ten years after the dilapidated corrugated iron shed was eventually destroyed. Furthermore, this week marks the last week of an exhibition that tells the narrative at the Dead Dog Gallery, which is located just over the road from the site of the former rink.

Record numbers have flocked to the gallery to see the show, which was put up by Lewis Hobson of CYAN CIC, as veteran rink rats reminisce and seize the opportunity to introduce their children to the world of skateboarding.

The best part is that rather than attempting to impose a story from above, the show is very much a ground-up project, drawing on artifacts and recollections from the community.

Lewis believed that was essential to the project's success. He began with family recollections, too young to recall the rink himself, and saw the tale take off from there, frequently in unexpected directions.

"The handcrafted items piqued my interest at first," he remarked. "I think we're forgetting that we can still make things the way our parents or grandparents did a long time ago.

The scrapbooks, banners, handcrafted items, and badges all captivated me. Though they didn't think anyone else would be interested, people would have these goods. "That's definitely going in," I exclaimed. We were given scrapbooks by the young ladies that included these amazing ice skaters. It reveals a great deal about the players' cult of celebrity, the scale of the entire event, and what it was like to be a part of that dynamic. That's where the fun is, in my opinion.

A collection of trophies won by the Wasps during the height of their success in British ice hockey was among the most thrilling discoveries. Thought to be lost for a long time, they were discovered, faded and battered, in a garage and are now on show at the gallery. For Lewis, the exhibition is mostly about the feeling of being lost and then found.

Meanwhile, fresh memories surfaced during opening night and a later visit by Olympic figure skating champions Torvill & Dean. Lewis stated, "We had some local figure skaters show up, and they were eager to explain to us that it was about more than just the Wasps." Durham was also producing champions in the figure skating competition. There was one teacher, a famously tough one. She used to train these national winners, despite the fact that everyone talks about how frightening she was.

"We would adore learning more about that."

Even if the exhibition closes on Friday, the narrative continues. Documentary filmmaker Carl Joyce is now producing a movie about the rink and the community it spawned.

"It was very emotional when we interviewed Lewis's family," Carl remarked. They would occasionally cry as they related their memories. You had the feeling every time we talked to someone that we were uncovering a really important tale.

"There was a strong sense of the community and family that developed around the rink. Everyone got to know one another, formed friendships for the rest of their lives, and met their future spouses. It's very unique, and I believe that's why people remember things so vividly and strongly. It was far more than a simple skating rink.

Even if the ice has melted, the memories are eternal.

On May 16 and 17, the Durham Ice Rink exhibition comes to an end at Dead Dog Gallery (Durham Sixth Form Centre). The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free of charge admission.