During the winter months a century or so ago hundreds of skaters were attracted to the pools of Sutton Park."

One of the best-known of these skaters was Colonel Howard Wilkinson of Four Oaks who, into his early 80s, continued to take to the ice.

It was said that, on occasions, he was still able to win races against younger men.

Ice hockey was often played by men - whilst large numbers of women and children skated as serenely as
they could on the ice.

The town council was happy for skating to take place because 'strangers' - as they called non-residents - had to pay 2d to get into the park. The proprietors of the pools also charged for skating - in winter 1903 it cost 6d to skate on Wyndley.

The park keepers would measure the thickness of the ice, but it was left to individuals to decide whether
or not to venture onto it.

There do not seem to have ever been any fatalities during these years, but skaters did fall through the ice. If the ice started to crack, the park keepers would blow a whistle to get the skaters off it. Ropes and ladders were kept by the sides of the pools to assist any poor souls who found themselves unexpectedly immersed.

When the ice was deemed unsafe, prominent notices advising against skating were put up, but it was not unusual for these to be ignored. In winter 1922, regardless of the notices, 70 people ventured onto Blackroot Pool. The ice gave way and five people were immersed. They were quickly rescued, but one man was only saved when another jumped into the water and pulled him out.

All that reporters could find out about this courageous man was that he was called Mr Lunt. In winter 1949 at Wyndley Pool the ice broke under one man. He managed to scramble out, and then, thoroughly wet and doubtless deeply embarrassed, he left the scene as quickly as he could by taxi.

When snow fell, Holly Knoll in Sutton Park was crowded with tobogganists. Collisions between sledges took place - such as in January 1925 - but these accidents never resulted in serious injury. For those who enjoyed the sport of curling - the sliding of stones across the ice - rinks were opened in Park Road.

Sutton Park: A Social History 1900-1950 by Stephen Roberts is now available from Amazon, £5.

Associate Professor
Stephen Roberts