The following text has been issued to the Wellington Weekly News and will be used in their edition dated Wednesday 23rd January 2013.

The Officers of the Wellington and District Sports Federation were given a mandate to continue to deliver improvements in both sporting and leisure facilities following their en-bloc re-election at last week’s AGM that was held at Wellington RFC writes Federation Secretary David Derrick.
 
Reviewing the year in his Chairman’s report Roger Nunn commented that to now see the work start at Wellington Playing Field Pavilion that will deliver a modern state of the art changing and hospitality facility shows it was the correct move to have continued with the concept of a sports federation back in 2010.
 
The Federation had been the driving force in delivering two funding streams that made this work possible – the core funds from property developers Persimmon Homes and the top up funds from Sport England that had been obtained by working with the 4George Funding Consultancy.
 
The work had now physically started and this would give Wellington a proper such facility that the whole town would benefit from.
 
Federation was now working on delivering a quality sporting facility at Longforth Farm and there are ambitious plans on the table that would change the sporting footprint of Wellington for ever.
 
Other work conducted in the past year included prominent dog fouling signage at Wellington Playing Field and this had brought about a notable improvement in such behaviour.
 
Taking out the lease on the whole WPF estate was an aim for 2013 it was reported.
 
An appropriate opening ceremony for the new Pavilion will be held and external partners are on board working on this already.
 
Thanks were expressed to all who had helped the Federation in 2012 and it is hoped that they will all continue to assist in 2013.
 
Vice Chairman Nick Buttle had been the focal point of the Federation in respect of a bid for the work at WPF Pavilion and although this bid did not win the tendering process it was commended  as being a bid of high quality and thanks came from Nick for Bussell Plant who had worked with the Federation in this respect.
 
Secretary David Derrick and Treasurer Jane Browne presented their annual reports and these made equally good reading and listening as those that had gone before them; although the Federation’s bank balances are healthy to achieve some of the aims set out will need a greater balance being available, so fundraising and increasing the membership base are required so as to build up funds.
 
Auditor Derrick Hodgson had reviewed the Federation’s financial records for the past year and had issued a PASS report in respect of the material he had been presented with.
 
The Federation Officers for 2013 are
 
President – The Duke of Wellington
 
Patrons – Martin Pipe CBE, Jeremy Browne MP, Cllr Andrew Govier, Richard Fox Esq. and Steve Major Esq.; Steve Major had advised the Federation on the plans for WPF Pavilion’s development and in recognition of this work he was asked to become a Patron of the Federation and he accepted this offer with the meeting approving it.
 
Chairman – Roger Nunn
Vice Chairman – Nick Buttle
 
Secretary – David Derrick
Treasurer – Jane Browne
 
Auditor – Derrick Hodgson Esq.
 
There will be a series of meetings in the month of February that will be the base of setting the Federation’s agenda for 2013 – a meeting of the Executive Officers, a meeting of the Clubs affected by the Longforth Farm work and then a full Federation meeting will all take place next month.