WELLINGTON Rugby Club have begun planning celebrations for their 150th anniversary next year - with a gala dinner likely to be the highlight.

The first event is expected to be held in May of next year with the big dinner to be held sometime in April, 2025.

"We would like the dinner to be held after a special match, maybe a county or a representative game," said club president Matt Colman.

"At the moment we are looking for memorabilia to decorate the walls/halls at the club, so we can do justice to the club's history. We were founded in 1874 by the Fox family, with the original family home still being used at Tone Dale House.

"We have met up with Ben Fox who runs the House now - and he has provided us with some original photos of great-great grandfather.

"We are in need of 'mobilising' the town as we all know that there are many people who have been touched by WRFC in some way - do they have any interesting photographs or items which they can share/allow us to digitalise?

"Phil Braddick and I are to visit the Somerset Heritage offices in Taunton as we are told they have many fascinating artefacts already in chronological order.

"On this, the aim is to produce displays chronologically on the club walls in digital format, which will allow them to be changed easily in future years."

The president, a former lst XV captain, will be holding an open day at the club next Tuesday, December 5, for anyone to attend and, ideally, 'allow us to take copies of any interesting photos' they may have. He says he will be delighted to welcome to the club anyone with photographs, anecdotes, historical notes from 12 noon.

If anyone can provide memorabilia for the club to celebrate next year they can get in touch with Matt Colman on 07572 570629 or Phil Braddick on 07971 023383.

The club plan to keep the public informed of events when they occur next year once they have been arranged.

"We certainly want to make next year very special for the club and everyone connected with it," added the president.