A PENSIONERS’ club in Wellington has decided to close after more than half-a-century of supporting hundreds of the town’s elderly and retired people.

The decision saw more than £2,500 which was left in the bank account of Rockwell Green Pensioners’ Club given to local clubs and charities.

Chairman Doreen Elliott said it had been a sad decision to disband but there were just not enough members left to keep the club viable.

The origins of the club were uncertain, but it used to have hundreds of members and until 1973 it would meet regularly in the church hall at Rockwell Green.

It then moved to the village hall, and in 2016 a further relocation took place to the Lodge Close Hall, in Wellington.

The latter move was partly for financial reasons and also because by this time it was a closer venue for a majority of the membership.

Mrs Elliott said: “We had hoped it would attract more members in this new location, but unfortunately this did not happen.”

“In the past members had enjoyed going on holidays, doing daily seaside trips in the summer months, and going to shows and pantos.”

However, membership dropped over the years and by 2014 there were just 36 people on the club roll.

Mrs Elliott said: “Due to this number, we had been struggling to fill even a 29-seater coach, so even before the Covid-19 epidemic, trips were discontinued as they were incurring heavy financial losses.”

Last year saw membership at an all time low of just 18 people, and club meetings were being attended by only eight to 12 people.

So, Mrs Elliott said the decision had now been taken to disband the club due to the lack of support and to distribute the remaining club funds to various local clubs and charities.

The club gave £300 each to Reminiscence Learning, Lodge Close Residents’ Club, Lodge Close Wednesday Club, Friends of Wellington Park, and Wellington Basins Volunteer Group, while £500 went to St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice and the balance of £502.70 to Bulford Senior Citizen’s Club.