A leading housing developer has hailed the official opening of a new clubhouse and floodlights at a Wiltshire rugby club as a huge success after thousands enjoyed a weekend to remember.
Persimmon Homes Wessex agreed to sponsor the grand opening at the Royal Wootton Bassett Football Rugby Club by providing 1,000 balloons for a massive fundraising release.
The festivities got under way last Friday when 250 revellers enjoyed a black tie dinner, with guest speakers Mike Lewis and former England and Bath rugby player David Trick.
The next day around 3,000 people joined in with the festivities, which included a speech from Rugby Football Union president Bob Reeves, who praised the club’s efforts in raising £1m for their redevelopment.
Alec Adams, Honorary Life Member of Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Football Club, said: “This major project represents such a significant development for our club that we decided to hold a high profile weekend to celebrate and raise awareness of our new club facilities.
“We must thank Persimmon Homes for their support. The balloons were released at the start of the under-16 match and were an incredible sight.”
Pauline Fletcher, sales and marketing director at Persimmon Homes Wessex, said: “The opening of the new clubhouse and floodlights marks an incredible achievement.
“The club is a real asset for Royal Wootton Bassett, particularly due to the work they do coaching hundreds of youngsters and encouraging a real love of the game.
“We were delighted to support them and it will be interesting to see how far some of the balloons go.”
The opening also included a procession with a full military marching band, a David Hathaway lorry, the club’s mini and junior sections, various Army vehicles and a vintage fire-engine. There was also a Hercules fly-past, music from a Welsh male voice choir, while a parachute display team delivered the match-ball to Ballards Ash.
More than 200 youngsters and their parents went along on Sunday for a youth and community day. England cap Johnny May also returned to his former club to coach the mini squad, along with Lewis Moody, Women’s England cap Ceri Large and coaches from the London Irish squad.
The event also raised money for the Military Charity BLESMA (Limbless Veterans) and the Wooden Spoon (Children’s Charity partnered with the Rugby Community).
The Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Football Club was established in 1971 and currently fields two senior sides, with the First XV playing in the Southern Counties North League and the Second XV in the Dorset & Wilts 2 North League.
It also provides coaching for all mini and junior age groups and boasts a membership of well over 250 children and youth players.