Rushden Research Group: Roller Skating 1909

Rushden Roller Skating Rink

The Rushden Echo, 31st December 1909, transcribed by Kay Collins

Roller Rinking at Rushden - Local Enterprise

The old Volunteers' Drill Hall at Rushden has been converted into a roller skating rink, and the new enterprise is meeting with great success. The promoters of the scheme are Mr Geo. Miller, Mr Amos Wright, and Mr H O Miller, well-known residents of Rushden.

The floor has been laid with rock maple which, by experience, has been found to be undoubtedly the best flooring for the purpose. High-class ball bearing skates have been provided. Music is provided, and it is proposed to open the rink three days a week - Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The opening session was held on Christmas-eve, and, so far, the rink has been exceptionally well patronised. The sessions have proved most enjoyable and the management are doing all they possibly can to meet the requirements of every patron of the hall. The best of order has been maintained.

It is remarkable how quickly the devotees of the sport have become expert at rinking. Ladies and gentlemen alike, who have never had skates on before, become adept after one or two sessions, and the pastime is certainly one of the most exhilarating as well as one of the most fascinating that could possibly be imagined. With ordinary care, rinking is a perfectly safe amusement, and we are glad to note that the sessions have been quite free from accidents.

The Rushden Echo, 18th February, 1910, transcribed by Jim Hollis

Highly Successful Carnival

The enjoyment of skaters at the Rushden Skating Rink was enhanced on Saturday evening by a very successful carnival. The Rink had been very tastefully decorated for the occasion by coloured festoons, &c., and presented a very attractive appearance in itself. When the floor was filled with skaters the scene was quite brilliant, and the management (Messrs. G. Miller, H. O. Miller, and Amos Wright) are to be heartily congratulated on the spectacular effect of their enterprise. There was a good attendance of the public, the space round the rink set apart for spectators being well filled.

Without giving a detailed description of the dresses and characters, it must be said that they reached a very high level of artistic excellence and some striking novelties were to be seen. So good were many of the impersonations that the judges had no light task in awarding the handsome prizes offered for costumes.

The work of judging was in the capable hands of Dr. and Mrs. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. L. Perkins, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. F. Kingston, and Mrs. Reginald Smith. Their

Awards

were as follows :-

Lady’s fancy costume – 1, Mrs. W. Packwood, jun. (“Vivandiere”); 2, Miss Winters (“Odol”).

Gentleman’s fancy costume - 1, Mr. A. T. Nichols (“John Bull”); 2, Mr. F. Geary (“French dragoon”).

Gentleman’s comic costume – 1, Mr. W. Denton (“Hodge”); 2, Mr. F. Harris (“Daily Mirror”).

Child’s costume – 1, Master Cecil Heygate (“Dick Whittington”); 2, Master Shortland (“Maypole”); 3, Miss D. Nichols (“Geisha girl”); 4, Miss Ette (“Pierrette”); 5, Miss White (“Daisy Bell”).

Mrs. Baker gracefully distributed the prizes to the successful competitors.

Mr. G. Miller, on behalf of the management, heartily thanked Mrs. Baker, the judges, competitors, and general public for their assistance and support.

The whole of the competitors having been grouped and photographed by Mr. S. Powell by flashlight, skating then proceeded to the strains of the Rink Band and was kept up with zest till eleven o’clock. One item in the programme was a battle of confetti, heightened by limelight effects, and this was exceedingly pretty to watch.