I WENT to a 75th birthday celebration this week, and it got me thinking. What will the world look like when I’m 75? Will the promise of flying cars finally be delivered? Will humanity have expanded to a second planet?

There’s a tree in my garden, planted the day I was born. I like to think that will still be there. Maybe with a plaque, but that’s a bit ambitious. Or egotistical, I’m not sure.

As for the rest of Wellington, I’m sure the Monument will still stand watchful over the town, but reopening the train station will still be nothing but a fantasy. The carnival will chug through every September, a colourful, neon reminder of everything that’s good about the town. I also predict that, about 2047, Relyon will invent a new kind of bed, and the company will explode, dominating the world beds market for years to come. By 2076, Wellington will house the global headquarters, and it will bring great prosperity to the whole area. In fact, the whole area will be Wellington. We will have spread north, linking up Wiveliscombe, and all of the 10 Parishes into one Wellington.

Schools will be different, too. We may not even have them. But whatever virtual reality gubbins educates the children of the future, history as a subject will be very different. They’ll be studying Brexit, and probably analysing what went wrong. What can I say, I’m a pessimist.

All things considered though, the future looks bright for Wellington. At least, in my head it does.

John Gilding