Sunday 8 July 2018
President’s XI v Military XI
Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity Match
Fenner's Cricket Ground, 2 Mortimer Road, Cambridge CB1 2EL
His irrepressible love for cricket and a very individual approach to his wardrobe buoyed the BBC team through 45 years of exuberant fun. We will hear that unmistakably sonorous voice again ‘orchestrating’ this special match at Fenner’s.
The T20 match will be between a Cambridge University President’s XI captained by Zafar Ansari, Cambridge University and England, and including Rob Andrew and a Royal Anglian Regiment XI, captained by Lt Col David Carter. Players will be drawn from first class clubs and include some well known names.
Marking the centenary of the end of World War I, the match will be a fund-raiser for the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent charity that takes care of the needs of soldiers, former soldiers, their families or dependents and the bereaved, from the current Regiment and its precursor regiments across East Anglia. It is a fitting charity for this centenary year when cricketers from Cambridge, Henry’s home county of Norfolk, from the University of Cambridge team and others across the whole the country laid down their bats, pulled stumps and went into battle.
Henry is delighted to return to Fenner’s where he first played for Cambridge exactly 60 years ago, as an undergraduate at King’s College. ‘I was an opening bat, of sorts,’ he says, modestly describing himself as ’the worst Blue awarded since the War’. He did, fittingly in light of the up-coming match, score 104 not out for a Public Schools team against the Combined Services and a first class century at Lord’s against the MCC.
Guest of Honour will be the ‘Majestic’ Majid Khan who won his Blue when at Emmanuel College (1969-72) and went on to captain Pakistan. Majid, renowned for his grace and fluency, was considered one of the best batsmen in the world. He tore apart any bowling attack not least the towering West Indian fast bowlers of that time.
Food carts providing delicious meals will be dotted around the outfield. There will be a champagne tent, a wine truck, a beer tent and tea, no doubt.
The Cambridgeshire ACF Corps of Drums will provide entertainment during the afternoon and an auction of cricketing memorabilia will include a Pakistan sweater generously donated by Majid, himself and a bat, donated by Grays of Cambridge, that will be signed by the celebrities and the players.
Henry’s hugely successful book ‘Over and Out’ will be on sale and he will sign copies. We anticipate a few surprises on the day, as well.
‘You haven't heard my final 'my dear old thing' quite yet," Henry has said. Who would have guessed that one would be at Fenner’s and for this worthy cause?
Tickets can be purchased through Cambridge Live Trust.