A WEYMOUTH and Portland family had a reunion for 180 family members.

The Rod family, also spelt Rodd, met up at Jubilee Hall Conservative Club Easton Portland for their first ever reunion. Many members of the family had not met before.

Most of the family still live in the borough and the family decided to throw a get together for everyone to meet up.

Samantha Dell, fourth generation of part of the Rod family, said: “It was fantastic – a really good party. It was the first time we had the opportunity to meet each other.”

She added that the party had been a huge success and the family wanted to continue the reunions, possibly on a yearly basis.

She added that the event had brought everyone closer. She said: “It is just brilliant. Everyone feels that they have gained new people in their family.”

The family even have their own group on social networking site Facebook where family members can post old family photographs and share their history.

Samantha’s mother, Christine Dell said: “We’d never had all the family together before. Most of them are still living on the island. Because it’s a very big family it’s very, very difficult to get together.

“Granny had 15 children, 14 of whom are still living, all the boys worked in the quarries on Portland. My mum, who lives in France, came back for the event.”