Curlers mark 50 years in Hamilton
Celebration day success
Lanarkshire Ice Rink on Saturday celebrated 50 years in Hamilton.
The ice rink, at the Low Parks, was opened at 3pm on September 29, 1967 by Mr W. H. Robertson-aikman.
Building had started in August 1966 and in March 1967 refrigeration experts were on-site, with the opening of the £170,000 building seven months later.
It was mainly for curlers, provided for skaters.
The ice rink was the beginning of a “super county playground in a Strathclyde Park, which was to be a governmentbacked scheme to provide boating, golf, caravanning and pony-trekking for leisure-time Lanarkshire,” according to the Hamilton Advertiser at the time. but also
The six-sheet rink’s first curling match was to be an invitation game in which officials of Lanarkshire Ice Rink Limited were to play against invited guests.
Four Canadian curling fans, including Jack Mckimmie, travelled over specially for the occasion.
Director Marion Craig, who was head of the organising committee for the celebrations, said: “It was a great day, we had 144 curlers and about 40-50 guests, with games running all day.
“It was a very successful, enjoyable day with memorabilia and photographs from over the 50 years, and it was a very good day.
“There will be a celebration dinner at the Radstone Hotel on November 25, which is fully subscribed.”