Rollerama - great Harwood

[Royboy39]

Originally Posted by cashman

Great Harwood had a roller skating rink in the 60s went once nearly broke me neck, don't think it was called Rollerama Keetah, we just knew it as the skating rink.

There were two roller skating rinks - one in Harwood and one in Rishton.
The one in Harwood was called Mercers and the one in Rishton was simply called Rishton Skating Rink.

I remember falling on my arse many times in both of them.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by steeljack

Yep it was on the town square up a flight of stone steps , above the gas board showroom, spent many a friday night there when I was young , going back a bit here , but a Great Harwood roller hockey team once represented Gt. Britain in the World championships , think it was during the 50s and if I'm not mistaken a collection was taken up in the town to help subsidize the players fares to Switzerland .
As a night spot I dont remember it being called the Salchow , thought it was called the Towngate at one time

When Skinner had it, it was called Towngate Social Club, He sold it when he bought Martholme Grange, It did burn down and I remember Fred comming to a Barfitters that I worked for in Sabden to get new tables and chairs when it was refurbished after the fire, I actually went to the reopening

[jelly baby]

I remember the rink at Gt Harwood well, I have a photo of myself aged about 7, taken there. It would be around 1963.
In the 70's it was a nightclub, owned by Fred Skinner, went there a few times too.

[davidf]

Some of the local kids (in Accy, Willows Lane area) used to mention a roller-skating rink in Snuffy. This would be around the early 1950s. I never went, I couldn't even stand up on my roller skates when they were in the box!

[keith]

in the early fifties harwood skating rink was owned by len mercer his wife was cashier son john skate mechanic I am quite friendly with his son also called john he lives in accrington but can be found most friday nights in the rishton tory club john senior ran a shop on whalley road near to were the star cinema was dealing in any sort of tat Marion mercer lens daghter was a champion skater skating al over the uk and abroad norman the oldest son was the most famous one being captain of the england roller hockey team through he fifties and sixties untll the sport declined The great harwood team when it was at its peak was as follows j banks goals j talbot full back then norman mercer in mid rink position alan barton wing brothers tommy and albert birtwiistle the goal strikers transport for the team and there supporters was by walter barnes rishton luxury coaches

[john conway]

I use to go roller-skating in Great Harwood in the early 60's, it was a bit rough and ready. I remember the guy who ran it use to use horse liniment on any cuts and burses, and there where plenty of those plus the odd broken bone.

[rishtonette]

we just called it, the skatin! haha i have a facebook group for it, its called rollerama. go see! theres lots of old faces on there.

[ossy kid]

Went roller skating up Harrod in the 60s, they also used to play 5 a side footy up there. Any body else remember that?