Silver Blades Ice Rink

[Libertarian]

Liverpool needs an ice rink.

[lindylou]

Not sure, but I heard there was one in Wavertree.

Max will know.

[SteH]

There isnt one in Wavertree but they are building one in Widnes

[steveb]

Liverpool needs an ice rink.


As you know we had one on Prescot Road, andmit was pulled down.
None in Liverpool

[Kev]

my grandad used to work there

[theninesisters]

Liverpool needs an ice rink.


I once went on my arse while trying to ponce around on the frozen pond in Calderstones Park one very cold winter. :)

[bobbymac]

Yeah, the Ice Rink was called the Palace. Right next to the Curzen flicks. Used to go there lots when I was about 10-14. Then they banned hocky skates, that was the same time as I traded in me figure skates during the summer break. Needless to say I never went there again.:rolleyes:
Btw, anyone remember the roller rink on Myrtle St? Went there lots too.

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi all

My mate Geoff and I went to the Silver Blades Ice Rink a number of times and he courted his future wife Rena there. Is that the rink that was on Prescot Road that you say was demolished? It was in the Old Swan area. This was in the late Sixties. Bob Wooler, the DJ from the Beatles' days at the Cavern, was the DJ at the rink, and I can remember "Everlasting Love" sung by the Love Affair pumping out over the ice.

Chris

[bobbymac]

The Palace was just down from Shiel Rd, on Kenny. That's the only one I knew of.:002:

[steveb]

Hi all

My mate Geoff and I went to the Silver Blades Ice Rink a number of times and he courted his future wife Rena there. Is that the rink that was on Prescot Road that you say was demolished? It was in the Old Swan area. This was in the late Sixties. Bob Wooler, the DJ from the Beatles' days at the Cavern, was the DJ at the rink, and I can remember "Everlasting Love" sung by the Love Affair pumping out over the ice.

Chris

Hi
yes that is the one near junction of Prescot Rd and Sheil Rd, not sure of
date when it closed guessing late 70,s

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi again

Okay here in the archive (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/archive/index.php/index.php?t-1788.html) John Lemmon remembers "Silver Blades Ice Rink up the top of Kensington... and the ABC on a Saturday morning, Roy Rogers and Trigger blasting accross our silver screens..." And Lindy Lou says, "I was in the Silver Blades every week. My mum, nan & aunty all worked there ! My nan was a cloakroom attendant, my mum worked in the cafe/restaurant, my aunt worked on the sweet kiosk (but nor for long as she emigrated to Australia). I spent many Saturday afternoons watching the skaters.
The place no longer exists. It was demolished some time ago."

I have also seen it referred to as the Mecca Silver Blades and that Rory Storm of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes (http://triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/a-z/rorystorm-hurricanes7.shtml) worked as a DJ there after the group broke up. (Maybe they couldn't do without Ringo.) Also in an obituary on Bob Wooler (http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article35943.ece) in the Independent, I see it says, "Wooler became a DJ at the Silver Blades Ice Rink until it closed in 1970. . ."

Chris

Chris

[Gerard]

So who remembers the name of the Black Lad who was a DJ in the Ice Rink !!

[lindylou]

The only black DJ I knew of was Les Spain. I remember him from the clubs in town though, and not the ice rink. Don't suppose it would be him would it ??

[lindylou]

Chris, re Bob Wooler DJ'ing at the Silver Blades; there was a DJ known as 'Robbie Rave' !! was that him ? ( Bob = Robbie ?)

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Lindy

No. Bob Wooler would have used his own name and wouldn't have allowed a nickname to be used. As I recall him, he was kind of a persnickety fella. :)

Chris

[lindylou]

I think you're right Chris. :)

Another DJ at that time was Georgie Hardacre (not sure if I've spelt his name correctly). If my memory serves me right he was at the ice rink for a time. Robbie Rave could have been his nickname maybe, (although it doesn't connect to the name George!). A schoolfriend of mine knew Georgie and he was from the Everton Valley area.

[Gerard]

The only black DJ I knew of was Les Spain. I remember him from the clubs in town though, and not the ice rink. Don't suppose it would be him would it ??

Nope..Wasn't him Lindy..This fella got a spot on Radio Merseyside or Radio City (Soul Music spot)..Cant remember which one Now..Cause of his reputation at the Ice Rink.

[lindylou]

oohh yeahh .. there was a black DJ on Radio Merseyside.

Was it Melvyn Lyons ??

[Gerard]

oohh yeahh .. there was a black DJ on Radio Merseyside.

Was it Melvyn Lyons ??


Nope..Ha Haaa..!!

[lindylou]

ey you Gerard !! we're playing tic around the threads again !! lol ! :D

[Gerard]

ey you Gerard !! we're playing tic around the threads again !! lol ! :D

A know..Yer follied me the Ice Rink..Yer follied me t' Bucks Place..Yer even follied me to the Sportsman....an now yer follien me on ere..Pah !!!..Lol.

[lindylou]

:ninja: :unibrow: :D

[Gerard]

:ninja: :unibrow: :D

:ninja:

[bobbymac]

Back to the subject....guess the Silver Blades and the Palace must be the same place. If I remember right the Palace closed in the late 50's or early 60's. So, t'other one must have opened in the same place. I was gone in the mid 60's so I wouldn't know.:unibrow:

[PhilipG]

March 1984.
Liverpool Ice Rink is at the left.

The building 's history was quite interesting.
It opened in 1928 as a dance hall called the Palais de Danse, but it closed just after a year, to reopen in 1929 as the Casino Roller Skating Rink.
The Casino being the name of the cinema next door (which had opened in 1923).
Roller Skating only lasted until 1930.
After being closed for just over a year it reopened in 1931 as the Casino Ice Rink, and closed just two years later.
The building was again closed for a year and reopened in 1934 as a Mission Hall for a short while.
Renamed the Liverpool Palace Ice Rink it reopened in 1935, to be renamed Silver Blades Ice Rink in 1960, and finally Liverpool Ice Rink in 1978.
The final owner wanted Liverpool City Council to take it over, which didn't happen, so it was closed in 1986 and demolished in 1990.

All three buildings in this photo have been demolished.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/400533775_9304d75e13_o.jpg

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Philip

Many thanks for the photograph, Philip. The place had a chequered history in terms of opening and closing so it's not surprising there is some confusion over it. Thanks for all that great information on the history of the rink. :handclap:

Chris

[christy]

The DJ wasn't James Class was it who did the soul spot on city? Jon Jessop was the only other one I remember but he was white.

[Gerard]

The DJ wasn't James Class was it who did the soul spot on city? Jon Jessop was the only other one I remember but he was white.

No Christy wasn't James Class mate.

Do yer all give in !!

[johnlemmon]

i have strong memories of my first grope and first kiss there in the dark cold shadows of the rink with the great music blasting out...

i was quite shy in those days...

honest!!!

but have great memories of the singing and dancing (well ice jiggling more like) and falling over...!!!

Lemmo...:snf (41): :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[gilly10]

No Christy wasn't James Class mate.

Do yer all give in !!

Go on then........ who the F**k was it man, the suspense is killing me!! :)

[Gnomie]

Skating on thin ice asking that.

[Lady]

Did anyone ever frequent the Ice Rink, :handclap:

I went daily for years, so much so, my family moved from town to Prescot Rd,

My 2 sisters also used to go, along with some of my cousins, --Talk about a family affair............Lol

Great shame when it closed down :eek:

Jacky :PDT_Aliboronz_11:

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello Lady

Silver Blades Ice Rink has been discussed in other threads. See

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/search.php?searchid=98391

Chris

[Lady]

Oops :eek:

Shall we scrub this thread then................

Jacky

[lindylou]

Silver Blades was part of my childhood as my mum, nan and aunty worked there. (see the other thread). :)

funny enough - I never took to skating. :)

[ChrisGeorge]

Oops :eek:

Shall we scrub this thread then................

Jacky

Hi Jacky

No problem whatsoever, Jacky. It's fun to share memories and it is okay if some things are double referenced on the forum. :)

Chris

[Jackie]

:)I remember I used to go there with my sister and friends and we all thought we were really good skaters ( which of course we wernt) we used to go on the speedway (remember that) which was only for experienced skaters and one time my sister Lyn went flyin on her chest and skidded right out of the rink, it was so funny everyone was laughing and she never went on that again.:handclap:

[lee timmins]

So who remembers the name of the Black Lad who was a DJ in the Ice Rink !!

the black lad who dj'd at th ice rink was mike barber i cant be sure if it was in the bumble bee disco or down stairs but i think it was both,i went to the ice rink for years,any questions lol.

[shoney]

As I remember it the ice rink was called silver blades and slightly further up the road was the palace bingo hall

[lindylou]

yes it was called the Silver Blades. My mum, nan and aunty all worked there. I used to got there most Saturdays.

[gorgeous]

My dad demolished it ! 0(, but i thought it was in the 80's .

Karen

[gorgeous]

OMG LINDY ,
Ask them if they remember Norman ,

Poor Les , that was sad .
Karen

[Libertarian]

It would be nice to have a nice new ice rink and winter sports centre like the new arena in the centre. We have to keep moving forward

[lee timmins]

So who remembers the name of the Black Lad who was a DJ in the Ice Rink !!

the black lad who was a dj was mike barber he played in the bumble bee disco but im not sure if he played downstairs, ithink he did,anymore ice rink questions lol,i spent a bit of time there. lee.

[silver blade]

loved skating, still do when I can,(deeside) went from the age of 4 yrs to silver blades to 15 yrs was never our of the place cost mum and dad a fortune then when I left school had to start paying for myself, of course couldnt afford it ha. so stopped. I remember Mr Tree the general manager, he was a lovely man. when he left the rink, it went through a succession of managers and it went into decline couldnt make a profit he seemed to have the magic touch. Was in the Liverpool skating club used to be held at 6 on a friday loved it. there was never more than 20 skaters (or less)on the ice oh was sheer bliss not bumping into people (was a bit of a show off ha) oh the memories

[John(Zappa)]

Never been skating.I was good on roller skates:handclap:

[paul baxter]

i lived in the place in the seventies and i was an ice steward . i went by the silly name of Ftitz (the cat ) then
it would nice to here from any other icey goers

[paul baxter]

there have been a couple of black DJs at the rink one was paul barber [densil from only fools and horses brother Mike and the other one was tony Tiger
hope this helps,i worked there as an ice sreward

[Ged]

I believe i've only ever been a bar steward ;)

[Mark R]

Did anyone ever frequent the Ice Rink, :handclap: I went daily for years, so much so, my family moved from town to Prescot Rd:

Apparently John Curry appeared there in 1974.

Didn't the Liverpool Leopards also play Hockey there?

Programme for the 1952 Leopards V Ulster Monarchs match:

[Mobygrape]

I used to go there every Friday. Freddy Starr and the Midnighters played, it was a great place to meet girls

[iloveliverpool1900]

I used to loving going to Silver blades, was there on a Friday , Saturday , and Sunday fron around 1980ish. It was really the place to go at the time. All the ice rinks now dont seem to have the save atmosphere. aaaaaah those were the days....

[kerry]

my Dad was a figure skater there before I was born (I was born in 1969) I've had only been three times, but I did go to Deeside most Saturday's while in my last year at school, would anyone have any photo's of there times at Silver Blades

[Broliv]

Where was the ice rink?

[gorgeous]

Hi Broliv.
The Silver Blades ice rink was on Prescot Rd Kensington ,It closed in 1986 & was finally demolished by 1990,

Karen

[iloveliverpool1900]

There is a new ice rink being build in Widnes, should be finished by the end of next year, at the moment there is a small temporary one in Widnes town centre.

[ChrisO]

I thought the ice hockey team were called the Trappers?

[QUIPPY]

So who remembers the name of the Black Lad who was a DJ in the Ice Rink !!

MIKE BARBER WAS HIS NAME

[lee timmins]

you are spot on quippie,i remember him,he was a mate of m:)ine

[lee timmins]

So who remembers the name of the Black Lad who was a DJ in the Ice Rink !!

defo mike barber

[Mark R]

I thought the ice hockey team were called the Trappers?

The Liverpool Leopards played in the Southern A League (Midland Section) and The Liverpool Trappers played in the Southern B League (Midland Section).

[surestart]

MIKE BARBER WAS HIS NAME

I know him like a brother, whoops, he is my brother

[surestart]

the black lad who was a dj was mike barber he played in the bumble bee disco but im not sure if he played downstairs, ithink he did,anymore ice rink questions lol,i spent a bit of time there. lee.

Yeah our Mike worked Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons downstairs. Works at Fazakerly hospital now, he hasnt djd since about 1976

[Jim Baxter]

Hi My name is Jim and I used to almost live in the Ice Rink about Mike Barber he was a very good friend of mine when I was a teenager he used to live in Bootle and if I remember rightly he had a girlfriend called Lynn back then, that was about 1974 75 and i thought he had a younger brother called Carl but i can't be sure it's such a long time ago, if anyone still knows Mike i'd love to get in touch with him I don't think i've seen him since about 30 years, he would probably remember me as Jimmy back then and he even met my mum n dad because they invited him over to Sunday lunch one time, i'm sure he would remember me if you tell him that. I'm Living in Amsterdam and have been for the last 10 years but I am moving back home at the end of this month after 30 years of globe trotting.
Cheers Jim

[surestart]

Hi My name is Jim and I used to almost live in the Ice Rink about Mike Barber he was a very good friend of mine when I was a teenager he used to live in Bootle and if I remember rightly he had a girlfriend called Lynn back then, that was about 1974 75 and i thought he had a younger brother called Carl but i can't be sure it's such a long time ago, if anyone still knows Mike i'd love to get in touch with him I don't think i've seen him since about 30 years, he would probably remember me as Jimmy back then and he even met my mum n dad because they invited him over to Sunday lunch one time, i'm sure he would remember me if you tell him that. I'm Living in Amsterdam and have been for the last 10 years but I am moving back home at the end of this month after 30 years of globe trotting.
Cheers Jim

Carl was a friend he moved to Blackpool many years ago. Our Mike married Lynn, they had 2 boys Craig & Gareth then divorced. He married another Lynn many years later but she turned out to be a bit of a bad penny so they divorced too.

[dilligaf]

OMG LINDY ,
Ask them if they remember Norman ,

Poor Les , that was sad .
Karen

Hi Karen.
My name is Mike and i have stumbled on this thread by accident , i was looking for information on the Silver blades and thats how i got to contacting you , i joind the forum in order to contact you and pick your brains, Karen... would you mind me asking you what did happen to Les? , i remember him very well as i used to work at the rink on saturday mornings , i used to work on the upkeep of the building which meant evrything from painting to plastering , les was a very careful guy with his money and i do remember how difficult it was to get him to pay me , it was a cash deal ( ?5.00) per day , if i did not ask him for it he would not freely give it. I also remember his two beautiful blond daughters , they were great figure skaters and good fun to be with. Agnes used to run the skate shop , she was a first class lady and i often wonder where she eneded up and how she is now. I also used to be there to watch the Leopards practice , on one occaision i witnessed an awfull accident where one player hit a slapshot across the rink and the puck left the ice and made full contact with the eye/cheeckbone of a player who was known as Rollo , the injury was sickening to see and the guy who hit the shot was getting terrible grief from everyone who was there. There also used to be some other people who i know, a couple of speed skaters who were very very well known for anitcs on ice , big Jimmy and little beady , jimmy used to catapult Beady skyward from a transfer... god knows how they come to learn that trick but it was cool to watch. Anther lad who was well known was called Brian Riley , he used to barrel jump about ten to fifteen people !!!! he never failed to clear them , anther member of the Riley family ( Carl ) used to drive the Zambonie to re-surface the ice.

As you can see i have some good memories of the place and of the great people who made it so memorable after all these years , but in all honesty its Les i remember the most as he was quite a good guy who kept the rink going all those years , i remember the time when the rink was facing closure and he wanted the counsil to take ot over... sadly it never happened and the rink got torn down , that for me was quite a sad thing to see as it happens too much to buildings these days and often is the case where the grounds are not developed for years , there are thousands of people who had a ball at the rink when it was in its heyday , i am just one of them.

Please can you tell me what you know of the Williams family today as its been about 28 years since i worked there.

Very best regards.

Mike.

[Ged]

Great memories Mike. Hope Karen looks in for you.

[Ronijayne]

I used to go there to see Freddie Star. I still have a photo of Freddie he gave me taken in one of those photo booths. He walked me to the Pier Head to get my bus on occasions after the Cavern!!!

[lee timmins]

Hi Karen.
My name is Mike and i have stumbled on this thread by accident , i was looking for information on the Silver blades and thats how i got to contacting you , i joind the forum in order to contact you and pick your brains, Karen... would you mind me asking you what did happen to Les? , i remember him very well as i used to work at the rink on saturday mornings , i used to work on the upkeep of the building which meant evrything from painting to plastering , les was a very careful guy with his money and i do remember how difficult it was to get him to pay me , it was a cash deal ( ?5.00) per day , if i did not ask him for it he would not freely give it. I also remember his two beautiful blond daughters , they were great figure skaters and good fun to be with. Agnes used to run the skate shop , she was a first class lady and i often wonder where she eneded up and how she is now. I also used to be there to watch the Leopards practice , on one occaision i witnessed an awfull accident where one player hit a slapshot across the rink and the puck left the ice and made full contact with the eye/cheeckbone of a player who was known as Rollo , the injury was sickening to see and the guy who hit the shot was getting terrible grief from everyone who was there. There also used to be some other people who i know, a couple of speed skaters who were very very well known for anitcs on ice , big Jimmy and little beady , jimmy used to catapult Beady skyward from a transfer... god knows how they come to learn that trick but it was cool to watch. Anther lad who was well known was called Brian Riley , he used to barrel jump about ten to fifteen people !!!! he never failed to clear them , anther member of the Riley family ( Carl ) used to drive the Zambonie to re-surface the ice.

As you can see i have some good memories of the place and of the great people who made it so memorable after all these years , but in all honesty its Les i remember the most as he was quite a good guy who kept the rink going all those years , i remember the time when the rink was facing closure and he wanted the counsil to take ot over... sadly it never happened and the rink got torn down , that for me was quite a sad thing to see as it happens too much to buildings these days and often is the case where the grounds are not developed for years , there are thousands of people who had a ball at the rink when it was in its heyday , i am just one of them.

Please can you tell me what you know of the Williams family today as its been about 28 years since i worked there.

Very best regards.

Mike.
hi mike what did this les look like,what did he do ,just trying to remember,cheers lee

[Bill Harry]

Bob Wooler wrote a feature on the Silver blades ice rink for me for Mersey Beat when he worked there. They used to advertise in the paper regularly.
One of the residents bands was Lee Castle & the Barons.

[Ronijayne]

Mersey Beat! Memories flooding back. I used to read that with joy. I wish I had kept a few of them.

[gorgeous]

Hi Mike ,
God you've got a brilliant memory , i had forgotton quite a few of those names,
There was some suspicion surrounding Les's death , i think the final outcome sadly was suicide, but if you knew Les ( & reading your post you knew him , lol, )you too would probabally find that hard to believe, it was in the echo,
He had a shop as well as the ice rink & he was found there.

Agnes was a lovely lady , don't know how she is these days,
The Willams girls were Air hostess's.

Do you remember: Marie, little Les & John Marsh , ?

Good ole days hey ,

Love Karen

[george-g7not]

hi everyone im new here as you can tell ive been reading this thread and some names come to mind , i used to be at the icey almost evey night back in the 80"s the black dj's i remember were tommy and tony blaze , i just read what mike said and my god little beady i saw him about 8 years ago in the park lane area , as for big jimmy my wife still talks to his wife lorraine , i was given a free pass to get in as i had a couple of mates who worked there ie: big john strachen and john fayen {who also drove the zambonie} and john doyle who well i think he did as best he could haha so does that trigger any other names for anyone ?? who remebers big jimmy doing wheelies down prescott road ??? and the night the school car park on sheil road froze over and we climbed in and nearly knackerd our blades

[irishseashipping.com]

Interesting reading the reminiscences of the Silver Blades.

My father enjoyed ice skating and would take me there occasionally along with my mother in the mid to late 1960s.

He tried to get me interested and I had lessons there with a chap called Tony Hollis(?).

I remember the organ behind the glass screen and the upstair's cafe. Didn't they fry hamburgers on a hot plate?

Wasn't really the ice skating sort neither was my mother - transport was my hobby interest and besides one didn't fall onto horrible, cold ice! My father gave up after a while when he realised that neither my mother nor myself would never become interested!

[roccija]

:)
"The Silver Blades" !, wasn't that the former "Palace Ice Rink" on Prescott Road ??. Brings back many memories !!. A few of us who worked at Jacob's in
1942 (aged 15) used to go there every Saturday afternoon and had a great time. We didn't have our own skates, so rented them for a very reasonable price, and looked forward to it. Just over a year later I was at sea in the MN,
and never did get back to the "Palace" !!, - ah well, happy times !!.

Bob F :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[syl]

i used to go to the icy in the 80s and used to live for it, such fantastic memories, people who went i remember were heath chean, george white, andy aweedibo, vinny bishop, i used to go with my foster sister debbie.
songs that remind me of those wonderful days are, turn it on again and macarther park for the speed way, and other s songs were xanado, one day in your life, one day i ll fly away, japenese boy, woman in love. absolutely fabulous days. xxx

[Waterways]

St. George's Hall had an ice rink last Xmas:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05Nd3HTfI35mw/610x.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2363602037_b3dc071dd8.jpg?v=0

[Ronijayne]

WOW!!!

[Tony Cargill]

Hey Jim, my name is Tony Cargill and like you i spent most
of my childhood at the ice rink, Day in Day out, i also know
Mike very well and i hav'nt seen nor do i know where he is today !
like you i don't live in the UK anymore ( Mallorca ) but i also like
to reminisce of them Great Days/Nights !
Actually Carl was not Mike's brother, Mike's brother is an actor called
" Paul Barber " who is better known as " Denzil in Only Fools & Horses,
Carl Riley brother of Brian & Johnny & sister Lorrain, played ice hockey
for Liverpool Leopards along with Bernie Snagg, Jimmy Kirwin among
others, i oh so miss them times back in the Day, also miss the friendships
which are now lost in time and only recalled when we say
" I Remember When "
Anyway i guess i'll have my head full of Ice Rink memories at work today,
but they where just some of my best moments in my childhood.
Anyway Jim, i hope this helps in someway,
Take Care
Best Regards
Tony Cargill . . . . .
PS. Alan Day, Barry & Melvin Coy, remember any of these names !!

[Tony Cargill]

Hey Guy's, Les Spain worked at the " Time Piece " night club down by seal street, he left there in the late 70s early 80s and i believe he went to work for Tamla Motown records in the USA, he was good friends with the group
The Real Thing who would go to the Time Piece when ever they where in town !
Take Care My fellow Scousers !
Tony . . . . . .

[Kev]

Cheers for your posts Tont, welcome to the site.

Kev

[surestart]

Hey Guy's, Les Spain worked at the " Time Piece " night club down by seal street, he left there in the late 70s early 80s and i believe he went to work for Tamla Motown records in the USA, he was good friends with the group
The Real Thing who would go to the Time Piece when ever they where in town !
Take Care My fellow Scousers !
Tony . . . . . .

Tony Cargill, I remember you could get in the clubs because you was old enough and used to get away with paying kids fare on the buses cos you looked so young. I remember you falling asleep in our Mikes flat above the coffee time cafe on Kenny and we coloured your face in and stuck ciggy stumps and matchsticks in your hair, you woke up and went out without knowing, god we ****ed ourselves laughing.

[gorgeous]

On going through my late dads possesions i've found a few photo's of the Zambonie , they're not very clear but i was wondering if they'd be worth adding to this thread ( not that i could add them lol) you can see the huge clock clearly , lol . also things relating to the Dorchester rooms ,

Karen

[Ice Blok]

Hi, I like all of you used to go to The Silverblades rink in Liverpool in my teens every Saturday night. I remember the smell of the place, the 80's tunes (dire strates, Duran Duran & A-ha) The place was falling down, you could not get to one side of the rink because the plaster work was unsafe.

I loved the place so much I have tried to recreate the atmosphere and feel of the place in Warrington. I could not find the money to open a real wet ice rink, so my place is a synthetic rink but the kids love it and its prity good to skate on. I would love to see anyone who used to go to the Silverblades,Liverpool. Who like me are all grown up now with kids of our own!

Come down to Ice-Blok, Cockhedge shopping centre, Warrington
Ice Blok - Synthetic Ice Skating Rink in Warrington (http://www.ice-blok.co.uk) bring the kids and have a laugh.

It's been great reading about your memories of The Silverblades Liverpool. I would love to see some photos of the old rink if anyone has any?

Cheers

Dale

[surestart]

There is a group on Facebook called ' Campaign for an ice rink on Merseyside '
it has gathered over 5,000 members in the last couple of weeks.

[George]

There is a group on Facebook called ' Campaign for an ice rink on Merseyside '
it has gathered over 5,000 members in the last couple of weeks.

Really! the other one closed because it wasn't making enough money to cover its overheads and upkeep of the place.

At least thats what I got told when it was on the verge of closing down.

[surestart]

The other one closed because the bloke who owned it ripped the guts out of it thinking he was getting a grant to bring it up to date. Never got the grant, Liverpool council ended up owning it and ran it into the ground. Thats as far as I can remember but it was a long time ago.

[chrismarsden]

Hi, I like all of you used to go to The Silverblades rink in Liverpool in my teens every Saturday night. I remember the smell of the place, the 80's tunes (dire strates, Duran Duran & A-ha) The place was falling down, you could not get to one side of the rink because the plaster work was unsafe.

I loved the place so much I have tried to recreate the atmosphere and feel of the place in Warrington. I could not find the money to open a real wet ice rink, so my place is a synthetic rink but the kids love it and its prity good to skate on. I would love to see anyone who used to go to the Silverblades,Liverpool. Who like me are all grown up now with kids of our own!

Come down to Ice-Blok, Cockhedge shopping centre, Warrington
Ice Blok - Synthetic Ice Skating Rink in Warrington (http://www.ice-blok.co.uk) bring the kids and have a laugh.

It's been great reading about your memories of The Silverblades Liverpool. I would love to see some photos of the old rink if anyone has any?

Cheers

Dale

Looks like a good set up you've got there.
How does it compare to skating on Ice?

[wsteve55]

I've put this pic' on before, for someone,but thought you might like to see it again!?

[surestart]

I just hope some of the Liverpool community who are also on Facebook can join this group, maybe leave a good comment and forward it on to their friends so that they can join too

[wsteve55]

So,is there a plan for a new rink somewhere?

[surestart]

Possibly :handclap:

[dilligaf]

hi mike what did this les look like,what did he do ,just trying to remember,cheers lee

Hi Lee. Les was a bit on the portly side and had grey curley hair , he used wear a sheepskin coat when at the rink to combat the cold.

Les was a well known chap in the Liverpool area as he was the owner of the ice rink , its a place that i will never forget and wish i could turn back the clock to do it all again, and to find out that Les had died of a suspected overdose to me was a huge shock and one which i seriously doubted and heres why , Les was Jewish by relegion and he knew how to make and look after money... insurance companies would hold out on the life insurance payout in those circumstances and its this fact that makes me wonder what really did happen to him. I will always remember him fondly and will treasure the memories i gained there all those years ago.

On a foot note , does anyone know the first names of his two daughters , i understand that they went on to become cabin crew for an airline, i am an aircraft engineer myself for Virgin Atlantic Airways and would love to look them up and get a chance to say hi again .

Very best wishes.

Mike.

[ChrisGeorge]

I've only been caught on ice skates a couple of times in my life. One time was on Christmas Day in 1958 when my parents and I were living in Wallingford, Connecticut... I'm shown below with a friend (I'm on the left). The other time was during the mid to late Sixties at the Silver Blades when I used to go with my friend Geoff (I was living with my Grandad in Mossley Hill at the time). Geoff courted his future wife there.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/4219382825_9025c7318a_o.jpg
(Cell phone pic from a color slide)

[gorgeous]

Hi Mike .

For the life of me i couldn't remember the girls names , then it came to me ,,

Gaynor & i think Gill became a model/skater. Les really wanted both girls to become skaters.

Like previously said , i don't believe for one minute that Les took his own life , He could be a grumpy old sod but i got on with him . I remember him phoning & asking for my dad ,My dad was fed up at the time of Les expecting him to drop everything & told me to tell him he was in the bath , WELL !!!!! did Les kick off or what ..
haha , remember that sheepskin coat :rolleyes:in
Love Karen

[Samp]

I've only been caught on ice skates a couple of times in my life. One time was on Christmas Day in 1958 when my parents and I were living in Wallingford, Connecticut... I'm shown below with a friend (I'm on the left). The other time was during the mid to late Sixties at the Silver Blades when I used to go with my friend Geoff (I was living with my Grandad in Mossley Hill at the time). Geoff courted his future wife there.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/4219382825_9025c7318a_o.jpg
(Cell phone pic from a color slide)


Looks like a scene from 'Blair Witch' Chris!

[for old times sake]

my grandad used to work there Took my fisrst girlfriend there still remeber the place well saturday morning disco's t-rex lol

[kdraper42]

After many years rollerskating in Sefton Park ,m I and a few friends started going to the ice rink in Kensington, after a while of hiring the skates , I spotted a pair for sale in a second hand shop in Larkl Lane , the shop was called Martins, eventually I pursuaded my mum to give me the 16 shillings to buy the skates, on buying them I found that they were girls skates as they were in a cream colour, my mum dyed them a navy blue so they didnt look to out of place, and I used them untill they became too small for me, that was in the years 1954- 1956, Ahh such happy memories I was 12 at the time that I started going to the ice rink. Cheers Keith .

[leslie alexander]

OMG LINDY ,
Ask them if they remember Norman ,

Poor Les , that was sad .
Karen
YES I DO KNOW LES THE OWNER . I ALSO KNOW NORMIN AS I WORKED WITH HIM FOR MANY YEARS IN THE ICE RINK THEY WAS THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE IS THIS CAREN HIS DURTER IF SO CAN U SEND AN EMAIL ADDRESS

MY NAME IS LESLIE ALEXANDER ( LITTLE LES) I WAS NOWN AS IN THE ICE RINK

merseyside61@hotmail.com.COM

[gorgeous]

OMG
Where the hell have you been hiding Les ?
I'm sorry to say my dad passed away in Feb , We tried to contact you & also Benny , who is sailing somewhere around the world , Even tried the place in Hesketh st & the Cafe on Aiggy Rd ,

Will send you a message

Karen

[leslie alexander]

my grandad used to work there

what was ur grandads name i worked ther up till it shut down

what did he do ther

[leslie alexander]

Silver Blades was part of my childhood as my mum, nan and aunty worked there. (see the other thread). :)

funny enough - I never took to skating. :)

did they work ther when it was the liverpool ice rink cos i worked ther then


thanks

[leslie alexander]

Hi Lee. Les was a bit on the portly side and had grey curley hair , he used wear a sheepskin coat when at the rink to combat the cold.

Les was a well known chap in the Liverpool area as he was the owner of the ice rink , its a place that i will never forget and wish i could turn back the clock to do it all again, and to find out that Les had died of a suspected overdose to me was a huge shock and one which i seriously doubted and heres why , Les was Jewish by relegion and he knew how to make and look after money... insurance companies would hold out on the life insurance payout in those circumstances and its this fact that makes me wonder what really did happen to him. I will always remember him fondly and will treasure the memories i gained there all those years ago.

On a foot note , does anyone know the first names of his two daughters , i understand that they went on to become cabin crew for an airline, i am an aircraft engineer myself for Virgin Atlantic Airways and would love to look them up and get a chance to say hi again .

Very best wishes.

Mike.

one was caled jill and other was caled gayner

[leslie alexander]

OMG
Where the hell have you been hiding Les ?
I'm sorry to say my dad passed away in Feb , We tried to contact you & also Benny , who is sailing somewhere around the world , Even tried the place in Hesketh st & the Cafe on Aiggy Rd ,

Will send you a message

Karen

IM SO SORRY TO HEAR A BOUT UR DAD MY BEST FRIEND ,AND LIKE A 2ND DAD TO ME IT HAS COME AS A BIG SHOCK AS I TRYED PHONEING HIM THE LAST 2 DAYS I HAVE ALLWAYS WHANTED TO GET INTOUCH WITH YOU I EVEN ASKED UR DAD ABOUT 2 YEAR AGO TO GIVE U MY PHONE NUMBER I HAVERNT SEEN UR DAD FOR ABOUT 10-12 YEARS AND YET IT SEEMS LIKE YESTER DAY I WAS IN THE ICE RINK WITH HIM HE WAS VERY GOOD TO ME AND WAS WELL APRECHATED SORRY FOR ME SPELING IN THE LAST 15 YEARS I HAVE DONE LOTS OF ODD JOBS FOR FRIENDS AND NIBOURS AND THEY SAY TO ME HOW DO I KNOW SO MUCH AND ITS ALL DOWN TO UR DAD AND I THANK HIM WITH ALL MY HART NO ONE COULD EVER REPLACE HIM ONE IN A MILLIAN I WOULD SAY ANYWAY HOPE TO TALK TO SOON HOW IS UR LES ANYWAY.


BYE FOR NOW


(little ) LES

[Kev]

what was ur grandads name i worked ther up till it shut down

what did he do ther

Peter

[leslie alexander]

THE ICE RINK CLOSED ON THE 4th JULY 1986 FOR THE LAST TIME .

IT WENT INTO LIQUIDATION.

THEN IT GOT PULLED DOWN AND THE BINGO GOT THE LAND FOR A CAR PARK.

I MISS IT SO MUCH

I WORKED THER UP TILL THIS TIME



( Little Les )

:ps I still have my old work referance from Les Williams the owner thats how i know when it shut down.

[leslie alexander]

my grandad used to work there

what was his name

[ChrisO]

My uncle (William Stanley), played for the Liverpool Trappers and I've been told by him that upon formation of the team, they had no badge/logo. My uncle Bill, asked my Dad to design a badge for the Trappers, which he did. I never knew until now

[anthonyjohnsykes]

Hello everybody... very nostlagic... I skated at Liverpool Prescot road from 1964 thru to about 1973 and then went to Queens Ferry and Altrincham (now pulled down and a new one built)
there was the LSC (liverpool skating club run by Pam and Joy Cubbon) the Thursday Ice Dance Club before the General Session, we had the use of the ice on Sundays from 6.15pm until 7.30pm and was fantastic... anybody remember John Williams and Binky, Len and Anne Williams (len has passed away Anne was teaching at Alrincham) Marj Winstaney, Pat Eastwood, Eric Shrotter, Tony Holles, also my partner Pat Rotheram, and then Mrs I Bailiie who had a daughter Ingrid who danced with Bill Harper... anyone remember brother and sister Pam and Alan Smith??? and the coach trips to Nottingham to watch the British Ice Championshps....how the Fantastic Liverpool Ice Dancing Formation Team run by Hal and Pam Bradshaw???? John Williams and Collette Durkhin (johns father played the orghan on the stage) Had Lots of fantastic times there... and would to hear from any other people who remember skating at that time... one person I have never forgotten is James Woodward and His wife Laura (she has sadly pased away some years ago) who organized the Brugge skating trips..and of course our lovely Friend Anne Roberts..... well I am 65 now and was only 18 wehn first started until I finished at Liverpool when I was 33 and went on to Alrincham.....