Another London Institution Is Getting Knocked Down

It's a London landmark. It's the site of some of my best nights out. It's appeared in music videos and on the cover of pop albums. After over seventy years of being a hive of social activity and landmark in East London, Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium is going to be knocked down so property developers can build yet another tower block or housing estate. I am personally shocked, disgusted and downright annoyed with the loss of another piece of my history to housing.

The Bigger Picture

I admit if you're not from London or have an interest in Greyhound racing in the UK you probably don't care about this either way and to be honest I can understand this. My worry is this common trend of knocking down centres of activity in the real world and parts of our own culture. I can think of numerous cinemas, green spaces, parks, pubs and libraries that have all be demolished for housing in the last decade. And no one cares, because we can chat to our friends on facebook, download DVDs and Sky+ night upon night of viewing. So it doesn't matter if we all end up living on top of each other in a few years, we won't need to go outside anymore.

Animal Welfare Must Be Monitored

There are many greyhounds which race solely at The Stow and with this closure meaning there is now only two tracks in London. What happens to this dogs must be monitored. The present owners of the track have made it clear the welfare of the animals is a priority but as everyone knows talk is free and actions cost. Trainers and owners are now going to be faced either relocating their races to other grounds but with the supply far outstripping the demand some animals are going to have to be retired and rehoused. I really hope that everyone is going to consider the welfare of all the greyhounds but I fear for what may happen to some that cannot be rehomed. For those with access to the local media in the East London and Essex area please keep an eye out for another stories of negect and flag it up here under my comments please.

Farewell to The Stow

Goodbye dear friend. My place of great joy when an outsider I just had a feeling about romps over the line like a bolt of lightning. My place of disbelief when my dead cert hobbles along, making me question why all my luck is bad. Goodbye to the bar and restaurant where multi-millionaire David Beckham once had a job collecting glasses. Goodbye to the Childs Play Area my Dad never let me go in. Goodbye to the tight turns, the sound of paws trampling forward on sand, to the crowd roar and the thin men in overcoats making funny shapes in the air with their arms. Goodbye to the night out with friends, to going through with the girls how to read a form cards, to being amazed when they just pick a dog for the funny name and it wins by ten yards. Goodbye to a piece of British culture, goodbye to a part of my growing up.