Farewell Walthamstow Dogs
We went for one last fling at Walthamstow greyhound races on Saturday night. The track is closing this August because of the alleged impact of tax free betting off-course and rising running costs.
What’s not to like about a night at the Dogs (alright, apart from ‘animal rights’ issues)?
Stepping through the gates into the grounds always takes me to another, almost timeless world (like the New Picadilly used to): Scampi and chips at red formica booths; Pretending to pour over the form of the dogs, but really going for the one with the best name; Queuing up to place your bet with the white haired 70-somethings manning the tote (foul tempered but never disdainful of your 50p punt); Old style bookies, the only men in suits, swiftly revising their odds up to the last minute before the race; The lights darkening and the crowd quietening before the start of the race; The dogs streaking by in the blink of an eye, passing the finishing line before you’ve had a chance to put down your betting slip and pick up your pint; Race-sponsors proudly being photographed alongside the winning dog; The sounds of cheering (and swearing) ringing in your ears.
But it’ll all be over by the end of August. A top night out at a beautiful 1930s East London institution is being swapped for some horrible new flats instead. Bet they won’t be around in 75 years either.
Tags: London
July 28th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
It does seem a shame
here’s my view of things (plugs film again!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0qcbs2zCTY
I can’t but help but feel that the stuff they knock down is more interetsing than the flats they put in their place, that being said my once a year trip wouldn’t keep them in shoes sadly.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
It definitely feels like the end of an era for Walthamstow - the place is a landmark and I never have to explain where I live thanks to it and East 17/Blur. I have no doubt that the developers will throw up some of those bland, non-descript, shoddily built apartment blocks which cover much of the UK. No bands will be sticking pics of them on their album covers that’s for sure.
Did you think about shooting your film in colour? There is something about the stadium which cries out for saturated colour (John Hinde postcard style), although the tone of the film is probably more B&W.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Really sad for me, this, and to be honest I think it’s the final nail in the coffin for Walthamstow - we don’t have a cinema anymore, there aren’t really any good pubs in the area, nor any good gig venues, and so the dog track had become an enterainment staple. I couldn’t persuade my friends to travel out to Zone 3 to go to a local Walthamstow pub, or to watch tribute acts such as Alike Cooper play the Standard, but I could always talk them into the dog track once in a while. It’s going to seriously limit my socialising in the area.
My brothers used to go to the track, as did my father, and apparently my grandfather as well, so it’s also the one thing that all generations of my family seemed to have been involved with on nights out. This is a spectacularly short-sighted move, and Waltham Forest really should have bunged them some money to survive - but then sadly Waltham Forest council is a disorganised den of quick fix merchants and hucksters (who still inflate the Council Tax through the roof, sadly) who care nothing about the image of the area. If they had it their way, there would be nothing but red brick residential apartments for city workers across the entire region.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I know what you mean about colour but for night flood lit stuff B&W was the only film they made for super 8. You could do it on Video which i like but I wish video looked as nice as grainy messed up super 8. One can but hope the neon lights get kept some where, rather than being hit with a hammer and dumped in a skip.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Dave, don’t get me started on Waltham Forest Council and their uninspired, lazy and vacuous approach to planning, architecture, culture, heritage… anything that actually encourages people to live here. A ‘Big Olympic screen’ does not make up for the lack of cinema (and neither does the MP attending the McGuffins film quizz, Mr Gerrard!).
Walthamstow isn’t a bad place though. There are some ok pubs around and I strongly suspect that you, like me, frequent the Wood Street record arcade as well (how long till that goes?) It is hard to get people here, but hey, I’m not likely to trek to Balham either. I would offer to meet you for a pint at the Standard as I think Deft Leopard might be playing this weekend, but I don’t think I could cope (with the band that is).
BLTP, Good point, I imagine that lighting super8 for night shooting could be problematic. As for the neon lights, in an ideal world they’d go to our local museum (before the council try and shut it down), but in reality they’ll probably wind up in someone’s garage.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Sad news Cocktails. We still have a dog track in Glasgow, though I’ve yet to make the trip to it to see the mutts. I did go there once in the late eighties to see speedway, but it’s in a bit of a state now. The main stand is fine, but the terracing is near enough derelict.
I do go to watch speedway once a week at Ashfield stadium in Possil and it has the same effect on me as Walthamstow has on you. You seem to enter a wee portal into a different universe, and forget about all the shit things in life for a couple of hours. The glorious sounds and smells of 4 valve Jawas burnt oil, with only the shale in your hair to worry about…….;)
http://tigersatthetapes.blogspot.com/
July 28th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
That should read “The glorious sounds and smells of 4 valve Jawas AND burnt oil”
July 28th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Yes, I do frequent the Wood Street record arcade, a gem I would encourage everyone to visit - although some of the units have already closed, and the last time I was in there some of the traders were complaining about the lack of revenue in recent months, which makes me a bit fearful. Although I could always help to put that right by paying them more regular visits, I suppose.
I don’t know how long you’ve been living in the area for, but Wood Street generally used to be a second hand record shop mecca, with an additional outlet across the street from the (then entirely full) arcade a few years ago - but it’s changed a lot. I used to live in a street quite near the station and could happily while away an entire Saturday shopping there, but now it just takes me a couple of hours to browse at most.
As for pubs, the Village has a few OK ones, but the clientele in some can be rather too needlessly snooty for their own good. And I really don’t want (or need) to hear jazz bands playing cover versions of “Walking on the Moon” whilst I drink a pint, either (I’m looking at you, The Nag’s Head).
July 28th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Bugger, I’ve got a whole bunch of free tickets that I never got ’round to using. I had a great night there once, my sister and I bet on all the dogs with the daftest names, we won quite a lot of money using that method.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Ill Man, you should get yourself to the Dogs for a real treat. And if we’re talking about doing something different then I should probably try Speedway. I believe the Pastels are into it…. although I can’t quite imagine Stephen Pastel in Possil…
Dave, Yes, I’ve lived in Walthamstow for quite a while now and I’ve noticed the diminishing number of record shops over the past few years. I should make another trip over that way myself - yes, to show my support (unlike my lack of support for the Standard, which I am 5 minutes walk from!). Oh, I don’t mind the Nags Head and its jazz. I have more of an issue with the people who on insist on taking their badly behaved children there.
Ms Empress, You must have been in luck that night - the dog with the best name method didn’t cut it for us on Saturday. You really should go if you’ve got time before it shuts.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
You should Cocktails. How about a wee pact? I’ll do the dogs at Shawfield and you do the speedway. Lakeside Hammers in Thurrock being your closest bet I’d imagine. (http://www.lakesidehammers.com/), though there is a team in Reading and one in Sittingbourne.
Stephen Pastel did indeed go to the speedway, though I think he’s long since stopped going. I remember the Tigers speedway sticker at the counter when he worked in the record shop above the John Smiths in Byres Road. Alas, at that stage the Tigers were riding at Shawfield. He’d probably moved on by the time the racing moved across the city.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Thurrock, eh? Well, thats certainly an option. The only problem is getting there, or more to the point getting back. Life tends to be difficult without a car. It would probably be easier to go to Possil. Actually, I thought we could go when we’re up in Glasgow in a few weeks time but I’ve just been informed that we’re spending all Saturday in Milngavnie visiting relatives. Sigh.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Glasgow speedway is Sunday afternoon at 4pm. I think the nearest railway halt for Lakeside speedway is Chafford Hundred (what a brilliant name!!) It would seem it’s quite close by. It is a pig to get to though, I agree.
It’s ok, I’ll be off to the dog racing anyway, and I’ll report back on it with my usual colourful language and glorious technocolour photography. ;)
July 28th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
4pm, Sunday is even worse for me - I’ll be on the train home by then. I’m impressed by your knowledge of Essex speedway locations and train stations though. Racing there is on a Sat. night it looks, so a bit of a trek home.
Stil, I look forward to your report on the dogs. Remember to choose the dog with the best name.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Google maps are handy things. Don’t bother with the speedway unless yr mad keen on it. An 80 minute round trip by train on a saturday night sounds horrible.
I’ll maybe do the dogs this week, if I can rope in a willing accomplice………..
July 30th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Ah, what a crying (but predictable) shame. I grew up not too far from there and it was a legendary place. We’ve still got a stadium down here at Hove, which is good but not a patch on the ‘Stow.
And there used to be a nightclub adjacent to the Dog Stadium called Charlie Chan’s, where i once saw Glen Hoddle. Beat that for glamour!
July 31st, 2008 at 3:25 pm
ISBW - I hate to think what a nightclub near the dogs would be like. Clearly a classier venue though than I would have thought! Have you been to the Dogs in Hove? That is definitely not a place I would have picked as a greyhound racing ‘destination’.