SINCE the end of last season the club has had a busy summer at Okehampton Rugby Club.

Back in May the Presidents Day was a highlight of the year. Club president Robert Ewen organised a team of past Internationals, Royal Marines and club players and the first XV won a thrilling game. The star guest at the event was England international and past Okehampton player, Julian White.

The main game was preceded by an exhibition game by Okehampton RCF's Junior section and a game between the highly successful Okehampton Colts team, Devon Colts Cup winners in the 2012-13 season, and an invitation North Devon Barbarians Colts team organised by Wayne Reed of the RFU. The event raised more than £3,000 which was split equally between the club and Royal Marine's charities. Later in the summer a Family Fun Day provided enjoyable entertainment for a small crowd and raised money for the cancer charity ELF, a charity close to the club's heart.

The annual meeting in July reported a much improved financial position over the previous year, largely due to a lot of hard work by members carrying out a variety of fund raising activities and the generosity of its sponsors.

The new season starting on Sunday and subscriptions are due; the membership secretaries contact details are: seniors, Sylvia Langan on 077989 21966 or 01837 55705; juniors, Jayne Pillivant on 075265 14554 or 01837 55449.

Club secretary Dave Potter said: 'We hope that our sponsors will be able to continue their generous support to fund the club's activities and projects. The money sponsorship provides allows the club to grow and develop.'

For information about sponsoring Okehampton RFC, contact the sponsorship secretary John Shields on 07812893328. New sponsors are always welcome and a range of benefits are on offer.

The club's main projects at present concern the replacement of the old gym building and the provision of new grass pitches at New Road. The old wooden structure has come to the end of its useful life and is in such a dilapidated condition it is beyond reasonable repair. It must hold strong memories for our older members as it was the first used as the changing room when the club moving to Oaklands back in the 1970s. A pair of portable classrooms have been brought from Chulmleigh School with the support of grant funding from United Charities.

The club now has planning permission so the old building will be demolished and the new one erected in its place as soon as possible. The other main project is the provision of new grass pitches in fields adjacent to New Road and the Stoneypark Show Field.

The club is working with Okehampton Argyle FC, United Charities and local business man and landowner Simon Essex to achieve this as a facility for Okehampton.

Progress is not as fast as had been hoped because of delays in the planning process which requires surveys on the ecology and archaeology of the proposed site to be carried out and there is still a lot of work to be done, but those involved are determined to see it through.

Training for the senior players started early. Two pre-season friendly games have been played, with the club recording a win at Sidmouth away but losing to Exeter University at home.

The Juniors also start their season's campaign at the beginning of September.