How Fife's historic ice rink was built in 1908

Laying the pipes that run for almost ten miles under the ice pad

The announcement that Fife Ice Arena is preparing to open after more than six months in lockdown seems an appropriate time to trace its story back to the very beginning.

The first mention of a new rink in Kirkcaldy can be found in the Fife Free Press of February 5, 1938.

A public notice on the front page laid out the aims and ambitions of the founders to create a brand new facility at the top of Rosslyn Street.

Curling and skating already had huge interest among locals, who’d flock to public ponds any time they froze over, or travel outwith the area to other facilities - but ice hockey was a new sport on the cusp of a major boom.

Interest was sparked by the remarkable achievements of the Great Britain team at the 1936 Winter Olympics.

They pulled off a major upset by winning gold medals in a sport dominated by Canada.

Rinks across the UK were packed as pre-war audiences thrilled to this new, fast and furious sport.

Inside the rink are some of the workers and first ice hockey players including Len McCartney (fourth from left), and Norman McQuade, who scored the very first goal, (second from right)

The fact that the founders were comfortable in building a venue which housed 4000 spectators underlined just how vibrant the sport was, and, with curling and skating integral to the programme, it became a focal point.

The rink cost £37,000 to build - in truth the final bill just nudged £40,000.

To put that into context, the town’s fire station on Dunnikier Road, which opened just six months earlier, cost around £15,000.

That original public notice gave people the opportunity to buy shares as well as finding out more about the project. There was a 30,000 share issue at £1 each, with 25,000 shares offered for subscription.

The directors included Sir Robert Cook, JP, linen manufacturer, and past president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club; George Adamson, motor haulage contractor, Leven; John Anderson, paper manufacturer, Leslie; Archibald Dryburgh, farmer, Methilhill Farm, Leven; Alexander Forrester, Omnibus proprietor, Lochgelly; Alexander Fraser, building contractor, Kirkcaldy;

James Glen, merchant, Burntisland; William Porter, flax spinner, Leslie; James Ramsay, chairman of Leslie Gas Company; John Rolland, painter & decorator, Kdy; Capt David Ruscak, director of Wm Ruscak , St Andrews; and Edward Williamson, merchant, Kirkcaldy.

An option was taken on three acres of land owned by James Davidson, Branxton, Dysart.

Plans for the rink were prepared by Messrs Wm Williamson & Hubbard, chartered architects, in Kirkcaldy.

They came up with an ice pad measuring 195 feet by 97 feet, sufficient for six curling rinks, all the associated dressing-rooms, plus a dining and tea room, refreshment buffet, lounge, and milk bar.

There was also a bandstand, a confectioners and tobacconist - and it had style.

The art deco frontage remains to this day, but it is just a hint of the post-war elegance which could be found throughout the building.

Messrs Spears fitted out the furnishings. There was a tomato coloured carpet in the clubroom with Parker Knoll chairs in white birch with dark green moquette. Linen curtains and bear a design by Dame Laura Knight.

Much of the work was carried out by local tradesmen, and the rink was hailed as “a veritable skater’s paradise.”