THE National Trust is launching a fundraising initiative, inviting people to send a letter of love or a story of their time at Wellington Monument, in return for a donation to the project.

The trust’s restoration of the monument has now passed its half-way milestone. However, despite funding received from grant-giving bodies, donors and the community a further £380,000 has still to be raised.

Over the past few years, during fundraising for the conservation project, the trust has been overwhelmed with stories from visitors of their connections to the monument.

Community engagement and fundraising officer Emma Jones said: “I have heard from many locals and former residents, sharing with me a story of their time at the monument. Whether it was a marriage proposal, walks to the monument as a child or even being dangled from the port hole at the top!”

Memories in the Monument is an opportunity for visitors and those who have a connection with the landmark to write a letter of love, a memory or perhaps a story of their time at the monument. The letter will then be placed between the stones by the conservation team, Sally Strachey Historic Conservation.

Emma added: “We would love to keep the spirit of storytelling alive and are offering the chance for these stories to be placed in the heart of the monument.”

Clinton Rogers, local resident and former BBC Somerset correspondent, shared his support: ‘‘I have so many happy memories of the monument. I still have vivid memories of going there with friends, when we were kids, cycling down to Monument Farm, picking up the key, then climbing to the top – sometimes without torches in pitch darkness – trying to scare our friends! It is also where my wife and I used to walk – before we were married. And more than 40 years on we still walk there with our little dog Rosie.”

Clinton’s former colleagues from the BBC surprised him with a leaving gift of a memory in the monument. He said: “To have my final Points West script cemented into the stonework is such an honour. I hope to put a family picture there as well so we can all look at it and say: ‘A bit of us is in there’.

“We owe a big thank-you to everyone who has helped to make the repairs happen – we can all look at the monument with a sense of local pride.”

The National Trust is asking for a suggested minimum donation of £50 for each letter received. Anyone who would