Get your skates on!

Students will bring some festive spirit to St Andrews this weekend (26 November 2010) with the town’s first outdoor ice rink.

The n-ice idea is the brainchild of the Charities Campaign, who have organised and will host the one-off event. The student volunteer run ice rink will take place in St Mary’s Quadrangle in South Street from Friday until Sunday.

Youngsters taking to the ice at Kinnessburn, January 1955

According to the archives, it is the first time that an ice rink has been built on University property, although it is known that the area behind the town’s bowling green often froze over and was often used by local children.

The St Mary’s rink however is more of a hi-tec affair, being made from newly developed synthetic ice injected with silicone to make gliding extra smooth.

As well as the skating action, visitors to St Mary’s this weekend will be treated to entertainment from singing groups and dancers, Christmas gift sales and food and hot drinks supplied by Oxfam and Red Cross.  On Saturday at 5pm Rory the Campaign’s mascot will join Santa in South Street to officially switch the Christmas lights on.

All profits from the novel event will go to their six nominated charities: Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), Royal National Lifeboats Institute, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, Build Africa and Trekstock.

The ice rink will be at St Mary’s Quadrangle on South Street, St Andrews, from 26 November (5-11pm), 27 November (11am-7pm) and 28 November (11am-7pm). Tickets are available on the day priced £6 for students and concessions and £8, or in advance at www.yourunion.net/events.

Ticket price includes skate hire and on-ice time of one hour.  ‘Penguin’ helpers will be on hand to help beginners.

For further information please contact: [email protected]

ENDS