The popular venue was a major meeting place for dancing during the 1950s and '60s after it was turned into a full-time dance hall.

But that was just the latest guise for a building which had previously been a skating rink and popular boxing venue,
A string of town fighters can boast starting on the road to success at the venue.

The Queens Rink was built in 1910 as a skating rink.
Less than a decade later, First World War troops were billeted there.

After the war, the Queens Rink became a garage and was later reopened in 1932 for skating and boxing.

Dancing was introduced the following summerd, with skating restricted to the winter months.

Skating ceased to be held at the venue in 1940 when it was made into a full time dance hall, until the doors opened for the last time in March 1968.

Hartlepool Town Council made a string of attempts to try to save the Rink and turn it into a sports venue.

But the inevitable final curtain fell and the building was marked for demolition.

All the internal fixtures and fittings were auctioned the year after it closed and several onlookers watched as years of history was wiped out.

Jack Dormand was a manager of the Queens Rink during the 1930s when it was used for skating.

He said at the time: "It is a very sad day. I am sure the place could have been reconverted into a skating rink instead of just dying.

"It is without doubt the end of an era."

Kip Heron, who played in bands at the rink for around 30 years, added: "I can remember times when more than 2,000 people would come to dance at the rink.
"Hartlepool people have had some very happy times in the ballroom, and before that when it was a skating rink.
"I think all of them will be very sad to see the end."

But, although the Rink, in Clarence Road, has now gone it is not forgotten.

Hundreds of partygoers relived the memories of their youth at the Borough Hall for a much-anticipated Queen's Rink reunion in April 2005.

Despite the venue being different to that of the original Rink revellers made like they were 16 again and danced the night away.

Every seat in the house was occupied and bands, including The Plainsman and Revival, wowed the crowd.

Town man Stan Laundon, 64, flew from Alicante, in Spain, where he now lives, especially for the event.

Stan, who grew up in Dyke Street, used to be a bass guitarist in a band called The Trakkers and would often play at the huge dance hall from about 1960.

Retired Stan, who worked for Radio Cleveland for 25 years, said: "The Rink just had atmosphere, it was electric."

Write to Tom Collins at Memory Lane, Hartlepool Mail, New Clarence House, Wesley Square, TS24 8BX, or click to email

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