WELLINGTON Cricket Club held its annual meeting for the 2025-2026 session on the evening of Tuesday, 28th October, and there was much change at team officials level within the club's senior section, writes David Derrick. After eight successful seasons as 1st XI captain Arron Campbell has stood down from this role and has been replaced by Jacob Hurry for the 2026 season as he steps up from vice captain of the side with Toby Stirzaker taking on that role.

The 2nd XI, recently informed of a third successive promotion up the Somerset League ladder to see that they will be playing in Division One next year, retain Rob Moysey ascCaptain. Paul Short has stepped down as vice captain seeing that Alex Derbidge takes over as second in command of the team.

The 3rd XI also sees a change in their leadership as Tyler Fyfe takes over as captain from Connor Wickenden and Tony Hutchings becomes Tyler's deputy in place of Des Campbell.

The youth section will be subject to a strategic review that will align the section to the seniorsSection in a move designed to allow for a seamless transition between exiting the Under 15s age group and reaching the 'base camp' of the 3rd XI with the 2nd XI and, ultimately, the 1st XI next stops.

Marc Holloway will oversee this review with help from other relevant stakeholders; he will also provide financial review facilities asfFinancial verification officer.

Isla Hendy will continue as manager of the Ladies and girls section and will be a qualified coach very soon too.

Simon Spalding has stepped down a spresident after five seasons in the role; he gave a departure speech in which he reflected on his 51 years (and counting) with the club that commenced at the 1974 AGM; pleasingly he confirmed that he would continue to support the club's operations as a life member of the club. This role was left open for now with the club committee taking on the requirement of finding a successor to Mr Spalding.

Mark Salter continues as club chairman, having held the role since 2017 and Des Campbell will provide Mark with support as vice chairman. David Derrick enters an eighteenth season as club secretary and reported on a solid season for the 1st XI after a 2024 season that had seen them exit WEPL's Premier Two Bristol and Somerset for the more familiar surroundings of WEPL's Somerset Division; he noted that in Lakshan Edirisinghe the club had found an Overseas Player of supreme quality and ability; his return for 2026 was a process that had been entered into already.

Treasurer Danielle Campbell reported a positive financial year for the period 01/10/2024 - 30/09/2025 in which income was larger than expenditure, capital investments had been implemented when the business case presented to do so was strong and cash reserves were strong, but needed to be carefully curated too. She will continue in this role for a second year as a result of her re-election.

Des Campbell will continue to provide groundsman capacity at Wellington Playing Field and leads on communication with Wellington Town Council who became the club's landlord in 2025.