When the Richmond Ice Rink opened in 1928, overlooking the Thames to the southwest of Richmond Bridge, it had the longest ice surface in any indoor rink in the world. It was known as the Most Famous Ice Rink in the World. It was not only a world centre of excellence for ice skating but was also part of the fabric of social life for many in the borough. It seems almost impossible to mention Richmond Rink without hearing ‘I skated there’.
The rink was sold in 1978 to a property developer, who kept it running until 1987, when it was bought by another property company, the London and Edinburgh Trust, then chaired byJohn Beckwith and his brother Peter, who intended to develop the site for luxury housing. They were potential bidders for the Bank of England site in Roehampton.
The planning consent stipulated that the company had to construct a new rink on an alternative site in the borough. In 1989 Richmond upon Thames Council accepted £2.5 million as compensation (probably about £5 million in 2024 money) and withdrew this condition. In 1992 the rink closed and the building was demolished.
The political intrigue surrounding the issue was highlighted when in January 1995 a number of Labour politicians presented an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons. It stated:
“That this House is deeply concerned about the circumstances that led to the closure of Richmond Ice Rink, a world famous sports facility, by Richmond upon Thames Council; notes the campaign, which has led to this matter being considered by the European Court; congratulates the Richmond and Twickenham Times in which an editorial dated 13th January 1995 questioned the lack of progress in securing a new ice rink facility in the borough;,,,,,; and calls on the Secretary of State for the Environment to initiate an immediate public inquiry into this entire matter so that the truth of what has happened can be explained to all interested parties.”
A London Liberal Democrat MP proposed an amendment which removed the concern and stated: `congratulates Richmond upon Thames Council on securing compensation from London Edinburgh Trust which has been spent on improved leisure facilities in the London Borough of Richmond; and wishes Richmond Council luck in its attempts to procure a new ice rink development.’.
No replacement rink has ever been built.
A matter of particular interest is the reference to the report in the Richmond and Twickenham Times, which then used to report on local issues, especially where there were concerns about political disagreement. Today’s online headline in the RTT is “Hundreds of Harry Styles lookalikes descend on London”.
No journalist has been present at the Stag Brewery Public Inquiry this week.
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The great irony of the original sale was that it was, if memory serves, a Liberal Council that sold the rink to property developers.
The agreement has long reminded me – can’t think why – of the pungent (pun intended) comment of John Randolph, an eccentric Virginian aristocrat US Congressman who coined the phrase in the 1820s and used it against at least two of his congressional colleagues. Of Henry Clay (and, although I believe this is less certain, also Edward Livingstone), he complained, ‘… like a rotten mackerel in the moonlight, he both shines and stinks.’
I’m sure the process leading (1) to the permission to demolish the internationally known ice rink with the agreement to build another elsewhere in the borough, (2) which condition was subsequently dropped was utterly unimpeachable in any way, whatsoever, and it could not be suggested otherwise on any basis whatsoever …
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