THE SKATING RINK
The Skating Rink is situated in
Nandydroog Mine just next door to the Nandydroog Club and is a famous landmark
in KGF. The Skating Rink was the only big Auditorium or Party Hall in KGF in
the olden days and was the most popular venue for Wedding Receptions, Parties,
Get-togethers, School Functions and Concerts, Musical recitals, Meetings,
Dances etc.
All the Mining Functions, the Christmas Dances, May
Queen Balls, Easter Ball, June Rose Balls, The Anglo-Indian Association’s
Annual General Meeting and Ball, New Year’s Eve Ball, Independence Day Ball,
The Republic Day celebrations etc, were all held at the Skating Rink. A
function was held there practically every month and it was a famous landmark
for all in KGF.
In the olden days of the John Taylor and Sons
Company, this Hall was used for Ice Skating and Roller Skating and Ball Room
Dances by the British. Hence the name SKATING
RINK. The floor of the Skating Rink was highly polished and was as smooth
as silk and made an amazing dance floor. (It remains so even today even though
the building is in shambles. This goes to show the perfection and workmanship
of those olden times).
It was the most popular venue for almost all Anglo-Indian
wedding receptions, Parties, get-togethers, Concerts, Musical Recitals,
Meetings, Dances, etc. Just before a dance, or a skating performance, white chalk
powder would be strewn on the floor to facilitate easy dancing movements for
the dancers.
Besides being used as a hall for functions and
dances, the Skating Rink was also an indoor Shuttle Badminton Court. We would
regularly play shuttle here during the holidays.
The Balls and Dances and social functions that were
held in the Skating Rink were the talk of the town. The Christmas Dances, May
Queen Balls, Easter Ball, June Rose Balls, The Anglo-Indian Association AGM
Ball, New Years Eve Ball, Wedding Receptions, Conferences, School Functions and
concerts, etc, were all held at the Skating Rink and there was a function
practically every month to look forward to.
Anglo-Indians from Bangalore, Jolarpet and Madras,
would also come for these Dances at Kolar Gold Fields. Local Anglo-Indian Bands
and Bands from Bangalore and Madras played at these dances and kept the people
on their toes dancing the night away.
Sadly, the Skating Rink which stood the ravages of
time for well over a hundred years is now in shambles. The inner walls are all
crumbling and the false ceiling of Tatty Cane is worn out in several places.
However people still continue to hold their functions in it and camouflage the
interiors walls with huge coloured Cloth and decorations. It will always remain
their ‘dear old Skating Rink’
