The men's youth free skating champion 2008 and 2009 Chris Fox travelled from his Tiptree base to use the rink at RetroSkate, Marina Centre.Chris, 16, is a GBR squad skater and has achieved silver standard.

The men's youth free skating champion 2008 and 2009 Chris Fox travelled from his Tiptree base to use the rink at RetroSkate, Marina Centre.

Chris, 16, is a GBR squad skater and has achieved silver standard. He is working hard towards the long-term goal of becoming senior men's champion. He is one of the top skaters in the UK and is one of the few people in the country to land a double axel.

He commented that the rink and facilities were fantastic and that he will be travelling to Great Yarmouth regularly to use RetroSkate's venue for training. His coach, Keith Salter, was equally impressed with the venue.

Victoria Brown, an international GBR squad skater for the last seven years, also trains at RetroSkate weekly. She is gold standard in dance and silver in free skating. She achieved second for the last two years at the ladies' senior championships. She commented: “I have never spun like it, the surface is brilliant!”

She is also a fully-qualified and CRB-checked coach and trains her own club North Walsham RSC. She also now coaches grades, dance and freestyle at RetroSkate. She has now turned her hand to judging and is a fully-qualified and affiliated FARS judge and travels the country judging and marking skaters at competitions and championships level.

Victoria is coached by Jane Jiggins (nee Gosling) who herself is triple gold medallist and was coached by Jocelyn Taylor, a world-class coach from Great Yarmouth. Jane was British pairs champion for three years running. Jane also coaches her own club Waveney RSC at Denes High School and is also coaching at RetroSkate on Mondays at 5pm.

RetroSkate had a surprise visit from a representative of FARS (Federation of Artistic Roller Skating) to consider the rink for holding competitions and British squad training days. FARS were impressed and RetroSkate now hope to hold a competition by the end of the year, with top skaters from all over the UK visiting the rink.

RetroSkate FARS grading sessions on Mondays at 5pm are proving very popular and successful.

Latest passes - One: Natalie Butcher, Charli Butcher, Hannah Ford, Malachi Mitchell, Sharon Chandler, Tommy Chandler, Ellie Armer, Henry Barnden, Trish Bayfield, Lydia Bayfield, Harlee Wicks.

Two: Gemma Cook, Danielle Temple, Abbi Drury, Lucy Beck, Kieron Kerry, Dulcie Read, Phillip Flint.

Three: Andrew Robertson, Evie Read.

Four: Gaynor Read.

Five: David Etherington.

Seven: Daisy Robinson, Ruby Robinson.