Rowers at St John's have returned to a transformed boathouse with high-spec rowing machines, upgraded weight-training facilities, and an enlarged indoor training area with views over the River Cam.
Lady Margaret Boat Club (LMBC), affectionately known as Maggie, underwent the £820,000 refurbishment over the summer following an ‘extraordinary’ bicentenary fundraising campaign. The refurbishment is the first major overhaul of the boathouse in 25 years and included major improvements to lighting and ventilation.
Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) undergraduate Emilia Payne, joint women’s captain, said: “The difference the refurbishment has made is incredible. Having more space and better equipment means we can get so much more out of our training, particularly when the weather keeps us off the river.
“Most people who row for Maggie arrive in Cambridge having never rowed before. That’s one of the things that makes the Club so special. Everyone is welcome, whatever their experience or ability, and the new boathouse makes it an even better place to get involved.”
Founded in 1825, LMBC celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2025. The ambitious project marks a major investment in the future of Cambridge’s oldest rowing club – one of the most decorated in British history.
“We have a proud history at Maggie, but it is just as exciting to think about what the next generation of rowers can achieve here.”
History undergraduate Xavier Wood, joint men’s captain, said: “There is so much enthusiasm for rowing at St John’s, and having facilities like these makes a real difference to how we train together.
“We have a proud history at Maggie, but it is just as exciting to think about what the next generation of rowers can achieve here.”
The refurbishment has also revamped the Club’s social spaces, giving students more room to relax and spend time together.
Alison Cox, Domestic Bursar at St John’s and a former Oxford rowing Blue, said: “One of the wonderful things about rowing is the camaraderie. The refurbished boathouse has much more space to train together, and it’s great to see this year’s novices already encouraging each other in big groups on the ergs.
“As a rower myself this was a dream project to deliver for the College and I’m delighted to see it full of athletes – from beginners to our top crews.”
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St John’s rowers helped establish the famous Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race in 1829, and the Club has produced generations of elite rowers, including Olympians Annamarie Phelps, Guy Pooley and Neil Christie. Maggie’s crews also have a proud record of victories at Henley Royal Regatta, while the term ‘blazer’ originated with the distinctive scarlet jackets worn by Lady Margaret rowers in the 19th century.
Maggie celebrated its bicentenary in 2025 with a special row-past at Henley Royal Regatta and victory in the May Bumps, when the men’s first boat retained Headship on the River Cam.
The win was marked by the traditional burning of a wooden boat on the College Backs. Its charred bow was later restored and put on display in the College bar, bearing the names of crews and coaches involved in the bicentenary campaign.
Hundreds of alumni and supporters backed the project and collectively raised more than £820,000 against an original target of £750,000. During the official opening earlier this month, former students and special guests were welcomed back to the boathouse to mark the completion of the project and to give alumni a preview of the new and improved facilities.
Glen Whitehead, Development Director at St John’s, said: “Cambridge is synonymous with rowing, and for so many of our alumni, their time at Maggie is one of the defining experiences of their student years.
“The friendships, the early mornings on the river, the excitement of racing together– those memories stay with people long after they leave St John’s. Being part of the Club becomes part of who they are.
“That lifelong connection has been reflected in the extraordinary response to our bicentenary campaign. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of alumni and supporters, we raised more than £820,000 to make this refurbishment possible.
“It was wonderful to welcome many former students back for the official opening and to see how much Maggie still means to them. Their generosity will help future generations enjoy the same opportunities and experiences.”
