A TIRELESS campaigner who has battled for the return of a permanent ice rink in Southampton for the past three decades and a new one for Winchester.

Edna Boden, 77, from Winchester, is secretary of Southampton’s Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club and a founding member of Winchester Ice Sport Association.

She has been ice skating for 60 years and was a key organiser in the 30-year reunion for all past and present members at the Holiday Inn, Morn Hill, near Winchester, on Sunday.

Originally from Bitterne in Southampton, Edna started ice skating when she was 11-years-old and trained at the city ice rink at Banister Park.

She has been campaigning for a new ice rink ever since the closure and demolition of the Southampton rink in 1988.

Edna said: “It was a fantastic afternoon. The Mayor and Mayoress of Winchester, David and Diane MacLean, showed a supportive display. We hope that maybe the message will get though.

“We had 90 past and present members in attendance including members from the Southampton Viking Hockey team.

“Robin Cousins, the Olympic gold medallist, is a true ambassador of the sport, he was there to say the passion for skating is still alive and there is that passion on the south coast. He said we need it for the community and the younger generation.”

Edna spoke of the campaign for a rink in Winchester: “We have a developer (Aethos Development) who is waiting to get permission from the council to purchase the land. It is something the city needs. He is hoping Winchester will be the first city to roll out an ice rink.

“Over 200,000 people a year use an ice rink and we need the council to support this project. It will be privately funded so there is no cost to the council.”

It was a lovely afternoon I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I believe if you work at things they do come true and you just have to keep fighting

“The temporary ice rinks are great but you can’t compare the temporary ice rink to a permanent one. We skaters love the out-door rinks but we wouldn’t trade them for an indoor one.

“We must continue this battle and I came away feeling inspired and even more determined to not give in. We have to fight for our dream so we will fight.”

“We will support any rink on the south coast we just want it back, we will fight to the end.”

Aethos is proposing a privately-funded Olympic-sized rink on the council depot site at Bar End on the southern edge of Winchester close to the site of the proposed new sports centre that is planned to replace River Park Leisure Centre.

There would also be a 120-bed hotel, restaurant, coffee house and convenience store as well as tenpin bowling and indoor caving.

Winchester City Council said it welcomed ideas for the future of the site but the land was not currently for sale.