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Princess of Hearts

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22/01/1991

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This Tuesday was Princess Diana's first official visit to the city. Her prime reason for the visit was to attend the World Leprosy Day service at the cathedral. Afterwards, on her way to the Town Hall to see the Eurotunnel Exhibition, she flouted the formality of royalty and indulged in a walk down Bridge Street to chat to the crowds, many of whom had been waiting for three hours or more for her. She lunched at the Haycock at Wansford, where the guests had paid £100 or more each for the privilege, all the money going to help build a leprosy hospital in Thailand. Diana then returned to Peterborough to visit the Sue Ryder Home at Thorpe Hall, where she met Lady Ryder. She then spent some time talking to the staff as well as the people who were involved in getting the building into shape. The princess' day ended with a visit to the King's School as a part of its 450th anniversary commemoration. She made a return visit to the area in May of the same year, when she visited RAF Wittering with Prince Harry. The 7-year old was 'as pleased as punch' to be allowed to sit in the cockpit of a Harrier jump-jet. (Harper-Tee, John, 'The Peterborough Story', Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 1992)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

Recreation , Earl Fitzwillam , Skating , Fitzwilliam Hall , Broadway

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Peterborough's First Skating Rink

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1877

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Many Peterborians may have fond memories of roller skating at the Wirrina in years gone past, but the history of roller skating starting 100 years earlier. 

The Peterborough Skating Rink opened on 2nd April 1877 and it was quite the place to be! Far from being a simple wooden floor to skate on with the ability to hire skates, an evening at the rink was a full evening of entertainment. Mademoiselle Lily an 'accomplished lady skater' and gymnasts, were two of the draws, but the most impressive were events such as bonfire night which featured a Guy Fawkes, outdoor illuminations and two full bands!

The skating rink appears to have been part of Fitzwilliam Hall, the largest indoor space in the city at that time. An advert of November 1877 states:

'On Monday Evening, November 26th, will be performed, at the Fitzwilliam Hall and Skating Rink, Peterborough, Handel's Oratorio "Messiah"'1

Another advert refers to it as 'Flitzwilliam's Grand Skating Rink.'2 The skating rink offered a large event most weekends, with live bands, trapeze artists, and 'fancy skating', all at great cost. By July 1878 it housed a Hound Show, being referred to as a 'covered skating rink'. By September of the same year the rink was turned into a theatre to show Robinson Crusoe with the line 'The theatre is intended to be permanent'.3 However the skating rink continued for several years thereafter and continued to be the home of the Hound Show and theatre performances.

Reference

1 Peterborough Advertiser, Saturday 24th November 1877, page 2, col 2

2 The Era, Saturday Saturday 28th April 1878, page 20

3. Peterborough Advertiser, Saturday 28th December 1878, 

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Recreation , Earl Fitzwillam , Skating , Fitzwilliam Hall , Broadway

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