Olympic figure skating champion Robin Cousins attends Lightning Fibre Ice Rink

Olympic figure-skating champion and Dancing on Ice judge joins special guests to celebrate this year’s fully accessible ice rink in Eastbourne

British Olympic figure-skating champion, Robin Cousins MBE, along with special guests from Forward Facing, a charity supporting Sussex families whose children have long-term or life limiting conditions, took to the ice at Lightning Fibre’s accessible Ice Rink, Eastbourne, to celebrate its accessibility for all and seasonal return to Eastbourne.

Cousins, a Guinness World Records holder and former ITV Dancing on Ice head judge, laced up his skates on Thursday 12, December at the Lightning Fibre ice rink to encourage people of all abilities to partake in the joy of ice skating.

Cousins, a patron of various children's charity and a BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was keen to lend his support to the Lightning Fibre ice rink with a focus on accessibility. This enables wheelchair users and the SEND community to get onto the ice and join in the fun.  

Chelsea, volunteer activities and accessibility co-ordinator at Forward Facing, said: “The opportunity to take our families, of varying abilities and accessibility needs, on the ice is brilliant.  

"The ability to enjoy the ice rink is something many of our Forward Facing families and young people might have previously written-off, however Lightning Fibre and Feastival Events have made great efforts to be as inclusive as possible and our families love it. Kudos to them. 

“Skating along-side Robin Cousins, an ice-skating legend, has been totally amazing."

Stephen Holt, leader of Eastbourne Borough Council and CEO of Eastbourne BID, and Lightning Fibre's chief commercial officer Rob Reaks, joined from the sidelines as enthusiastic supporters of the seasonal attraction credited with boosting visitor numbers and generating huge economic benefits for the town.  It was the BID team who brought the rink back to Eastbourne after a nine year absence, back in 2021, with the headline sponsorship funding provided by Lightning Fibre, and operated the rink in 2021 and 2022 before handing over to Feastival Events in 2023.

Rob Reaks, Lightning Fibre’s chief commercial officer, said: “We are delighted to bring the Lightning Fibre Ice Rink back to Eastbourne for a fourth consecutive year, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to supporting our community. 

“Since Lightning Fibre’s Ice Rink ‘returned’ to the town in 2021, it has been enjoyed by tens of thousands, and drawn more people into Eastbourne during the busy festive period, benefiting many local businesses. We are particularly proud of the accessibility of the rink, and delighted to welcome Forward Facing today and support this amazing charity."

Lightning Fibre’s Ice Rink, produced by Feastival Events, is located outside the Enterprise Shopping Centre and Eastbourne Railway Station and is open every day, except Christmas Day, until December 31st.

Lightning Fibre donated £500 to Forward Facing and £500 to Starr Trust on behald of Robin Cousins. Robin is a patron of the Starr Trust.

Tickets available HERE

‍FURTHER INFORMATION

‍Robin Cousins MBE is a British former competitive figure skater and Guinness Book of World Records record holder, BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1980 and the 1980 Olympic champion and European champion, and head judge on ITV's Dancing on Ice show for eight years. He won the World Professional Men's Figure Skating Championships twice (1985 and 1987) and was a World Professional singles medalist four times (1986, 1990, 1991, 1992). In March 1980, Cousins was the subject of This Is Your Life, after being surprised by Eamonn Andrews in his home city of Bristol. In 2005, he was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

‍Cllr Stephen Holt CEO of Your Eastbourne BID and Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council has been adedicated public service for in excess of 16 years, since he left university in 2008. He has been a council member since 2015. As CEO of Your Eastbourne BID he leads on initiatives to improve and enhance Eastbourne town centre. Holt was instrumental in brining the Ice Rink back to Eastbourne in 2021 and was responsible for securing the headline sponsorship of Lightning Fibre.

Forward Facing supports families in Sussex whose children are living with long-term or life-limiting conditions, complex disabilities. terminal illness or bereavement.

Photo: Robin Cousins MBE, with Chelsea Spence, volunteer activities and accessibility co-ordinator atcharity, Forward Facing, Candice Konig, CEO Facing Forward, Rob Reaks, Chief Commercial Officer, Lightning Fibre, and Feastival Events' Dave Richardson and David Monckton.