A remarkable moment occurred in the town of March, Cambridgeshire, when Hilary Butler, now 76 years old, swam at the newly refurbished public pool, marking the 60th anniversary of her first swim at the same location. In 1965, at the age of 16, Hilary was one of the first to dive into the town’s outdoor swimming pool, and she has now returned to the site, which has since undergone significant transformations.
The public pool originally opened as an open-air facility, offering a refreshing new place for the town’s residents. In 1984, the pool transitioned to an indoor one, becoming a staple for local swimmers. However, following necessary repairs and upgrades, the pool had to shut its doors in December 2024 for renovations. Despite some delays and increased costs, which ballooned from a routine £15,000 to a £150,000 renovation due to unforeseen structural issues, the pool has now reopened with a fresh look. It now boasts new lights, refurbished showers, and an entirely re-lined pool.
For Hilary, the occasion was nostalgic as she remembered her first experience in the pool six decades ago. Back then, she and her friend, Jennifer Randall, who sadly passed away in 2018, eagerly queued for an hour to be the first swimmers in the newly opened pool. As young teenagers, they were determined to make their mark on the history of their town’s swimming facility. Their efforts even earned them a spot in the local newspaper. “I was off school and supposed to be revising for my GCEs,” Hilary recalled. “But we decided we wanted to be the first in the new swimming pool, so we queued up for an hour and made it into the paper.”
The updated pool now operates under the management of Freedom Leisure and is located within the George Campbell Leisure Centre, a venue owned by Fenland District Council. Its refurbishment ensures that the space will continue to serve the community for years to come, offering residents a modern, safe place to swim and enjoy water-based activities.
Reflecting on the recent changes, Hilary expressed her satisfaction with the renovations. “It is very good to see the pool lovely and clean and hopefully, it’ll stay open for another 60 years,” she shared, clearly pleased with the transformation of a place that held so many fond memories for her. The pool is set to continue its role as a cornerstone of local recreation, providing families, swimmers, and visitors with an opportunity to enjoy water sports for years ahead.
As the pool moves into a new era, Hilary’s return symbolizes the longevity and evolution of community spaces that adapt to the needs of future generations while honoring their past. Her story is one of nostalgia, change, and hope for the future, as she continues to cherish the memories she created in that very pool all those years ago.