Friday, May 15th, 2015

Superb Picture Of 1964 Title Winning Team Back On Show In Hick Pavilion

Superb Picture Of 1964 Title Winning Team Back On Show In Hick Pavilion

The magnificent picture of Worcestershire's 1964 County Championship winning side, which for many years was on display in the old pavilion, is back on view for members and supporters to enjoy in the Graeme Hick Pavilion.

It shows skipper and club record run-scorer Don Kenyon and his squad of successful players dressed in their smart green club blazers and is positioned on the wall opposite the memorabilia section in the pavilion.

The picture is a fitting addition to the pavilion in the club's 150th Anniversary Year.

It was put into storage after the old pavilion was dismantled six years ago and replaced by the Graeme Hick Pavilion.

In addtion five replica pennants of each of the county's Championship successs in 1964, 1965, 1974, 1988 and 1989 are being displayed above the entrance to the main part of the pavilion after walking through the reception-memorabilia section.

Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: "The 1964 team picture that was in the old pavilion has now gone up in the Graeme Hick Pavilion.

"A lot of members have asked 'where is it' because it was in the old pavilion and it is a fitting addition.

"That is now up in the pavilion and we are also looking to put up the pennants of the five Championship wins to enhance the memoribilia section.

"We are just trying to enhance the memoribilia section with it being the club's 150th anniversary."

Worcestershire Heritage Group chairman and county board member Tim Jones said: "It is great to see the picture back on display. The quality of the picture is absolutely superb, a gift from Sir George Dowty who was the president at the time.

"It used to be in the old pavilion on the back wall as you went in on the right and has been in storage for a while. It is such a lovely picture and it is great for the 150th anniversary that we get it back out of storage.

"But it is lovely for all the members to see it is there again. It is such a fantastic picture.

"The green blazers are really smart, no sponsorship logos or markings on the sweaters, or numbers on backs. The players look particularly smart.

"The replica pennants are also something we've had in storage for some time. There are replica pennants of all five titles and it helps us celebrate the 150th Anniversary and is a nice reminder of championship-winning days.

"It adds a bit more detail to the display we've got. It is the first thing people will see when they come into the pavilion and is something different and allows us to update the content of the material."

Jones is constantly looking to update the club's memorabilia section.

He said: "The items we have got on display are the best of the best. We have got other items, perhaps not quite of the same quality, but we do have other bits and pieces in storage.

"It is a fitting tribute to the club's history and we are constantly adding to it. Just very recently we had a scorecard given to us from the match against New Zealand in 1949.

"Brian Brain has given us his colours tie, number 299, and that is coming on display with John Player League and Benson and Hedges Cup medallions.

"Perhaps quite fittingly we've also been given a ball from the very first match that Phil Hughes played in for Worcestershire, a List A game in 2012.

"Someone hit the ball into the net area for six, the ball was deemed lost but someone found it and has given it to us as a momento of Phil. That will be on display very shortly."