Skegness Magazine

Rock Must Roll

Source: Skegness Standard 2nd March 1960
Photos: Wrates Press Photos, Skegness

Bits of debris strewn far and wide over the emptied Skegness Boating Lake provided the latest communique this week on the town’s own @Battle of the Bulge’. And ‘The Needle’, the bulge of artificial rock 25ft high and 50 tons of cable-interlaced cement and sand is still putting up a strong resistance.
The Needle’ is alleged to have been needling spectators at summer fireworks displays. So Skegness Urban District Council decided it must go. So a team of demolition experts from Sheffield firm tackled it on Friday with explosives…
But after the bangs had ceased to echo along South Parade, chunks of rock had stopped ricocheting, and dust and debris had settled only the pinnacle had been removed!
It survived another onslaught on Sunday this time by local youths who saw in the badly shaken edifice a good chance of working off surplus energy.
Net results of their efforts was little more than a few extra scars; and one casualty – a dog that fell from the rock and was injured.

Differing Views

Always known as ‘The Needle’. the formation is part of the artificial rock layout of the Boating Lake designed over 30 years ago by former Surveyor, Mr Rowland H Jenkins, and is connected to the east side of the boating lake by a footbridge.
Used as a commentating platform by Mr Cyril Catlyn at the outdoor show fireworks displays, it projects from the south side of the concrete apron used as a stage for the main fireworks set pieces.
Foreshore Director Mr William G Bosworth has argued for a long time that it obstructs the view of patrons at the south end of the lake, and is bad for business.
Some councillors and the present Surveyor (Mr H M Cooper) do not agree that it should be moved. “I like the look of it,” Mr Cooper has said.
“I think it ought to stay there.”
But now his department has the job of removing it by instruction of the Council.

Feels Naked!

The demolition crew could not use big explosives because of the risk of damage to the boating lake itself, and the nearness of seafront hotels. As it was, their 4oz amanyl-gelignite cartridges blew debris as far as the Fairy Dell, and nearly to the Princes Parade car park.
Spectators on Friday scattered sharply when the rocks flew. After a numbers of attempts, it was decided to try hand-tools.
Council workmen Harold Moseley and Leslie Fukes were there with a pneumatic drill, crowbars and sledge hammers on Monday.
“The explosives have certainly weakened it,” said Mr Fukes. “I think we can get rid of it now – although it may take a bit of time!”
Out for a stroll and pausing to watch the workmen, summer compare Cyril Catlyn commented gloomily: “That bit of rock has kept hundreds of sparkling fireworks off me. I’ll feel naked without its shelter…”
And bit by bit, ‘The Needle’ began to yield stubbornly to the remorse drill.

Photo below:Smoke and debris rise into the air from the first explosion, fired in an attempt to demolish ‘The Needle’ at Skegness Boating Lake. Subsequent firings removed the projecting vertical rock on top of the edifice. ‘The Needle’ is being removed to afford a clearer view for spectators of entertainments and displays staged on the lake.

Photo below:Skegness Council workmen Harold Moseley (with drill) and Leslie Fukes take over where the explosives left off, looking (and perhaps feeling) like men tackling the Rock of Gibraltar with toothpicks!