It’s been a busy and rewarding 12 months for Worcestershire CCC Heritage Collection co-ordinator Tim Jones.
Tim is responsible for the magnificent displays in the cabinets in the Hick Pavilion – and now also the Sportsman’s Bar – depicting the County’s proud history.
But he has played his full part in other key events which have helped to enrich that magnificent history even further.
Tim has outlined all the Heritage activities that have taken place during the past 12 months in an article for the Worcestershire CCC website.
He writes: “It’s been a busy and rewarding 12 months as the co-ordinator of the Worcestershire CCC Heritage Collection. In addition to ensuring that the memorabilia displays in the Hick Pavilion at New Road are maintained and updated, several other activities have taken place.
“Thanks to the efforts of Richard Brown (who is also Chairman of the Cricket Memorabilia Society), the annual memorabilia day goes from strength to strength.
“Once again, income generated from this activity has allowed us raise funds to purchase items of memorabilia plus additional display cabinets. These alone cost £500 to purchase.
“A mobile phone app is now fully available which allows users to access the Club’s rich heritage and history in a way which I believe to be the first of its kind in the country. With narration of key moments in Worcestershire’s history, it’s available to download to any mobile device.
“In November 2017, busts of Basil and Damian D’Oliveira were unveiled and now reside in the Graeme Hick Pavilion along with the ‘Foster Bronze’, a figure of R E Foster. This award is presented to the County’s Academy player of the year and is a stunning addition to the heritage collection.
“On top of this, a new display cabinet is situated in the Sportsman’s Bar, including a John Player League medal belonging to Brian Brain which was purchased at auction.”
Tim adds: “Perhaps the most significant purchase made was the Club’s scorebook covering the period from 1882 to 1893.
“This became available at Tim Knight’s auction in October and thanks to contributions and donations from our own Heritage fund, Worcestershire CCC (CEO Matt Rawnsley and Club Chairman Fanos Hira were generous in their support), the Supporters’ Association plus two donations from Club members – who wish to remain anonymous – it allowed the book to ‘come home’ for the sum of £2,200.
“A significant document in its own right, it records 204 games throughout that time. It spans a period in cricket history including the transition from four and five ball overs to a match against Lancashire Second XI which was our first ever game against a team representing a first-class county.
“The honours boards in the pavilion have been updated and, thanks to the efforts of Andrew Thomas, several corrections were made to the original displays. One welcome addition was a board to celebrate the achievements of ‘Wisden Cricketer of The Year’.
“To complement these, two framed pictures commemorating the World Tour of 1965 will also appear in the Sportsman’s Bar as will new pictures in the Tom Graveney Lounge to celebrate Worcestershire being Division Two Championship Winners in 2003 and 2017 plus the outstanding achievement of T20 winners in 2018.
“Myself, Brian Lester and Ken Workman have supported the sporting memories’ initiative in co-operation with Worcester University.
“It is a hugely rewarding activity to be involved in and is a great way to support those with dementia in re-living favourite cricketing moments at New Road.
“On a final note, I was able to help the staff at King’s School Ely with information and pictures of former pupil and Worcestershire player W B Burns.
“He is still the only Worcestershire player to score a hundred and take a hat-trick in the same game but sadly lost his life in World War I.
“As a thank you for my help and to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice, I was invited to a service in Ely Cathedral, following which I presented the School with Mr Burns’ colours tie (number 46) – a lasting memento to one of the Club’s greatest players in the early days of first-class cricket.”
TIM JONES
WORCESTERSHIRE CCC HERITAGE CO-ORDINATOR
