The Invergordon Archive

Judging by how people look, this was taken around the early 1950s. It was rarely hot at Invergordon and, more often than not, we shivered during an entire visit there. Hot mugs of OXO, available from the office, was the only warming facility. There must have been a cold North Easterly on the day this was taken as the bathers are all sheltering behind the corrugated iron fence which provided the only protection from the wind. The small building to the right of the picture contained the pumping equipment for emptying and filling the pool. From memory the pool water was changed once a week with "fresh" seawater. I don’t think the water received any treatment and after a busy week you were careful not to take in too much of the water!
The huts on the left are the start of a row of changing cubicles, the nearest were the men’s and half way down there was the female cubicles. There was also a shower and a toilet for men and women.
Strictly speaking this was a Lido rather than a swimming pool but it had little of the design flair of grander outdoor pools. The only amusements were inner tubes of cars and tractors for which there was great competition. Lilos had yet to arrive!

You could be right with the date Billy. If the picture could be enlarged one may be able to identify some of the people.
There was also a large change room on the right not shown in the picture in front of the paddling pool. I remember the towel fights in there, flick flick.
The OXO was great if you could hold your hands still to hold the mug.

(A 'large version' has now been uploaded and I hope this helps - the original was a postcard and not that sharp - Site Admin.)

Good picture. Brought back many memories. When it got too cold in the big pool we used to dash in to the paddling pool to get warm!! How good it was to sip the hot oxo if you could hold the mug steady enough. Happy days. Good memories.

Good old days. Sad the only open air pools are now Gourock and Stonehaven now. Skirts and dresses tucked into knickers that was the style if you weren't in shorts!

Learnt to swim in the pool taught by Mr Privett circa 1957, also received oxo from Mrs Walker in the office.
Once I was reasonable I was taught to dive by David Bodell, after that used to join in the weekly races and was always beaten into second place by John Wood.
Always remember the water was freezing but I went every day as I lived in Oakes Villa about 30 seconds away. Happy memories

Aye like many others I learnt to swim in this rather cold part of Eater Ross. Many happy memories.

You only needed two lengths on the wire . Once each way . That was enough to make anyone keep their head above water.

Hi, my grandfather,John Ewan MacDonald, was instrumental in bringing the open air pool into being. So, my sister and I were encouraged to attend, daily if possible, during our summer holidays spent in Saltburn and Invergordon. In early 60s we may have been deemed old enough to go on own (from ages 5+ and 8+, is that possible back then? ) We were urged to go as the pool was no longer busy and threatened with closure.
This was a decade or more before pool demolished in mid 70s, but I can't find date it closed to help remember when was last there.

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