THE STOW: Vandals run amok on emotional last night (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

THE STOW: Vandals run amok on emotional last night

9:16am Sunday 17th August 2008

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A PACKED and emotional final night at The Stow descended into vandalism and petty violence as punters ripped out fixtures and fittings to take home.

Police and security were conspicuously absent as the frenzy of souvenir hunting began in the minutes after Walthamstow Stadium's last race on Saturday night.

Vandals roamed the garden in the centre of the track removing anything which was not nailed down and kicking and punching things that were.

Upstairs fixtures, signs and even a TV were ripped out and by the track drunken scuffles broke out.

A distressed kennel hand ran around trying to limit the damage, taking back signs, brushes and even spades from the thieves in between calls to police.

She confronted the vandals, telling them some of the iconic items had been promised to museums. But many of them could see nothing wrong with what they were doing.

Despite a last-ditch campaign to buy the stadium from its new housing developer owners, many expect the Chingford Road site to be bulldozed after they take possession on September 1.

The destruction started as racegoers stormed the track after the last race, running around on the sand, whooping and chanting “save our Stow.”

People posed for photos in the greyhound traps, by the famous tote board and on the winners podium.

But a significant minority of mainly younger punters had a different kind of memento in mind.

The destruction came after the busiest night in decades.

At opening time traffic jams caused gridlock on the Billet roundabout and queues of people stretched around the block into Rushcroft Road.

Surveying the crowds, managing director, Jack Chandler, said it was probably the best night he'd ever seen.

He added: “If we'd had attendances like we've had in the past three weeks obviously we wouldn't be closing.”

But close to midnight it was finally all over as police arrived.

As the stadium was cleared of everyone except staff, three black-clad figures were left on the track.

Phyllis Gress, whose parents had both worked at the stadium, led her two daughters in a solemn procession to the first bend.

With the full blessing of the Chandler family, which has owned the stadium for 77 years, she reached the spot where she had scattered the ashes of her Mum and Dad.

And quietly she scooped up some sand.

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