In the second of his two-part history of Durham Ice Rink David Simpson recalls the rise and fall of the Durham Wasps.

DURHAM'S first ice rink opened in 1940. It was a major task to keep it running and Icy Smith, the rink's founder, often relied on enthusiastic skaters to help with the maintenance.

Men were in short supply during these war years, and one challenge was finding volunteers to protect the rink's marquee from the wind and snow.

Nevertheless, the rink proved a huge success. It was a place where Durham folk could skate for sheer enjoyment, or sit back and watch the ice shows or ice hockey and temporarily escape the worries of the war.

Ice hockey was established as a regular aspect of the ice rink's attractions in 1942, and there was a ready supply of individuals with enough talent and experience to ensure its popularity.

They came in the form of Canadian airmen, stationed at air bases such as Middleton St George.

Ice hockey was hugely popular among the Canadians, as it still is today, and the Royal Canadian Air Force encouraged competition between the airmen as it was considered good for morale.

Many Canadian professionals came to play at Durham during these war years. They included talented players such as Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer, all players with the world-beating Boston Bruins, a US side that employed the cream of Canadian talent.

Ice hockey played at Durham was of a particularly unique brand in its early days. The poles supporting the marquee were a major obstacle for the players, but they became an integral part of the game.

Crowds flocked to the ice rink to see the games, even though Icy Smith was not allowed to advertise because it was wartime and the Home Office would not allow the movements of military personnel to be known.

In the event, it was a severe gale and not military action that destroyed the ice rink's marquee in 1944.

A new rink, with a more permanent roof, was now required.

In 1945, the war was over, and many Canadians returned home. Some remained, as did Durham's enthusiasm for ice hockey. It was now down to Smith, by then in his sixties, to build the ice rink that the city's skaters desired.

The rink, complete with a permanent roof, opened on the site of the original one at a cost of £64,000. One big problem had been finding wood for constructing the stands that would house the expected crowds.

Wood was in short supply at the end of the war, but Smith saw there was a great surplus of wooden coffins, and bought many for use in the rink's construction.

When the final nails went into the former coffins, it would signal the beginning, rather than the end, of a successful era for the rink.

Fundamental to this success was the ice hockey team. The Durham Wasps began their life in 1946 and were established by Mike Davey of Ottawa, along with three other Canadians who made Durham their home.

In the 1950s, Smith was so inspired by the success of ice hockey that he established an ice hockey team at Whitley Bay. The Durham Wasps team was split into two to help create the Whitley Bay team, known initially as The Bees, then the Braves, and finally as the Warriors.

This created a healthy local rivalry, but also meant that Smith could organise games so well-established teams from Scotland could play both North-East teams in a weekend.

Ice hockey maintained a degree of popularity throughout the Sixties and Seventies, but it was the period from 1982 to 1992 that was the real heyday for the Durham Wasps.

The team dominated British ice hockey during these ten years, winning the Heineken Championship four times, the British National League six times, and the Norwich Union cup on three occasions.

Two of the most influential players of this period were the captain Paul Smith, a great grandson of Icy Smith and the Canadian player-coach Mike O'Connor.

Sadly, ice hockey in Durham became a victim of its own successes and ambitions.

The last days of the Wasps came within only a few years of their greatest era.

In 1995, Sir John Hall purchased the team as part of the Newcastle United Sporting Club, with the intention of moving the club to a rink that was to be built near St James's Park, in Newcastle.

However, planning permission was never granted.

The Durham Wasps first season under new ownership was played at Sunderland's Crowtree Leisure Centre.

When they moved to Newcastle Arena the following season, they were renamed the Newcastle Cobras. In the next four years, ownership of the business changed hands twice, with a subsequent name change, first to Newcastle Riverkings and then Newcastle Jesters. The links with Durham were lost forever.

Unfortunately, the departure of the Wasps brought financial difficulties to the Durham rink. It closed on July 8 1996, reopening a year later as a 20-lane bowling alley.

Like the ice rink, it proved to be a popular leisure attraction for the people of Durham, but the days of ice skating in Durham City are no more.

* If you have memories of Durham you would like to share with The Northern Echo, write to David Simpson, Durham Memories, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF. All photos will be returned