ROBERT Walter MP (North Dorset) has revisited Wimborne Rugby Club to see how work on the long-awaited clubhouse refurbishments is progressing. Mr Walter was joined by East Dorset District Council leader Spencer Flower, who presented a cheque for £25,000 to the club, and also Prospective Conservative MP Nick King. Bob took a tour of the work in progress with club chairman Dennis Fry. Two of the old changing rooms have already been fully refurbished and are unrecognisable from the dilapidated rooms Bob saw during his visit last year. High quality, hard wearing finishes mean that the refurbishment should withstand the test of time and several hundreds of pairs of rugby boots. Work is ongoing to create a physiotherapy room and an area for staff and coaches to change, with the whole thing due for completion on 14th November. A grand opening ceremony will be held on Saturday 5th December to celebrate the modernisation, which Bob very much looks forward to attending. With over 700 members and a dedicated staff of coaches, first-aiders, parents and volunteers, Wimborne Rugby Club's tired premises were in desperate need of refurbishment and separate changing facilities were urgently needed for this club given its popularity with male and female players.

Although the club has won support from the Rugby Football Union and East Dorset District Council - the latter in the form of a £25,000 grant - the really hard work has been done by Wimborne RFC's members and supporters, who together raised the £100,000 plus that has allowed the club to start on the much-needed improvements. After the visit Bob said: "I was amazed by the transformation of the changing rooms. When I last visited in July 2008 it was clear that refurbishment was a must, so I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the club and all its supporters on making this modernisation project possible." "As treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Rugby Union Group and a huge fan of the game, I'm delighted to see any improvements taking place that will further the development of rugby in the community. "I believe that local, grassroots clubs like Wimborne RFC provide the backbone of the game, not to mention the positive physical and social activity it offers to boys and girls of all ages. So any improvement has to be good for Wimborne and the surrounding area."