Sunday, August 9th, 2015

Replica Pennants To Mark Title Wins On Display In Hick Pavilion

Replica Pennants To Mark Title Wins On Display In Hick Pavilion

The five replica pennants marking Worcestershire's quintet of successes in the County Championship are back on display in the Graeme Hick Pavilion.

The pennants used to be displayed above the main bar in the old pavilion and can now be found in the entrance area near to the memorabilia section.

There is one for each of Worcestershire's title triumphs in 1964, 1965, 1974, 1988 and 1989.

Worcestershire Heritage Group chairman and current Board member Tim Jones has had the pennants in safe storage at his home in the cricket coffin of former Worcestershire leg spinner Roly Jenkins.

He said: "They look fantastic and fit nicely in terms of how they appear, it's a good place to have them, but it's nice to celebrate the Championship wins.

"I think it is really important, particularly in the 150th Anniversary Year, to celebrate the key achievements.

"They used to be above the bar in the old pavilion and were up there for a while but have been in storage.

"It's nice to get them out of storage and find somewhere suitable.

"They were stored with some other bits and pieces in Roly Jenkins old cricket coffin from when the MCC toured South Africa in 1948.

"They were housed in the old office buildings but with the View being built I've had to keep them at home in safe storage for the last few years and I thought 'now's the time to get them back up here.'"

Jones added:"Five title wins in 25 years was a fantastic achievement and looking at the pennants reminds you of the closeness of the battles to win some of them.

"In 1964 we had to wait for results to come in from elsewhere to clinch the title. In 1965 we won 10 of the last 11 games and won at Hove with seven minutes of the season to spare.

"In 1974 we got on during a game ruined by rain to take the four bonus points at Chelmsford against Essex to edge in front of Hampshire which got us home by two points.

"Then in 1988 we needed to beat Glamorgan at home and claim maximum points and we did but it was touch and go with the damage done to the pitch overnight by vandals. There is a closeness to a lot of the run-ins."