THE call to bring ice skating back to Southampton has gone international and is being backed by skaters across the pond in America.
Former British figure skating champion and Olympian Chris Howarth, who now teaches in Chicago, has given his support to the campaign for a new ice rink in Southampton two decades since he last took to the ice in the city.
The 47-year-old who represented Great Britain in the men's singles figure skating in the 1980 Winter Olympics, first met his wife Beverley while sliding on the ice at the old Top Rank ice rink and says a new rink would have huge benefits for the city.
"This is a fantastic campaign. It's always been important for me obviously and it would bring something special to Southampton," he said.
"The old rink used to host the Southern Leagues which were really popular and in 1977 there was the Queen's Silver Jubilee skating gala which was attended by Earl Mountbatten of Burma - that's how important it was back then."
Chris said that today a new rink would give opportunities for public skating, figure skating and ice hockey, which would provide a positive activity for youngsters.
Article originally featured on www.dailyecho.co.uk
