The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Love skate relationship with city’s popular rink
It was real team spirit that opened the Scottish Central Ice Rink in Perth in 1936. Sportsmen and women from all over the central belt donated to the construction what would be Scotland’s most up-to-date skating and curling facilities.
Its state-of-the-art facilities made it home to the Scottish Curling Championships.
These images from our archives highlight why the much-loved rink, which was demolished in 1990, is still fondly remembered.
Discussions surrounding the building of a new ice rink in Perth began in 1935.
The general committee found itself in intense deliberations over the plans; in particular, how big the new ice rink would be and how much it would cost, but its name was unanimously decided upon in June 1935.
The eventual opening of the Scottish Central Ice Rink nine months later was a regional effort.
It truly earned its name when districts from across the central belt came together to donate funds for the rink.
Dundee and Perth were the two biggest contributors.
The Scottish Central Ice Rink cost £30,000 in total.
It was opened on St John’s Street by the Duke of Atholl on October 1 1936.
For curlers, skaters, and sportsmen in the area, the opening of the ice rink was the realisation of a dream. It would be a place where
all could continue to enjoy their sport throughout the winter.
The management had set up their own figure skating club, and rumours were swirling of an ice hockey team.
Everyone’s hopes were high.
This new Scottish rink would rival, if not better, the one in London.
Its 17,000 square feet of ice sat atop thick layers of concrete, built to keep the ground heat from seeping through and melting the
ice. Finally, nine miles of piping caused the freeze-up and ensured it stayed solid all year round.
The ice rink was a roaring success for the first two years of its life.
But soon the original building was too small to house the crowds that were determined to have a turn on the ice.
An extension was approved in 1937 by the Dean of Guild Court in Perth.
The rink enjoyed another 20 years of life at St John’s Street before it was closed in 1956 and relocated.
It reopened at Muirton Park and shared its new home with St Johnstone Football Club.
The Muirton Rink ice skating sessions were soon the place to be on a Friday night.
Perth-based journalist Jim Masson remembers taking a turn on the rink all too well.
He said: “The skating sessions were really well attended.”