150th Birthday Party - June 9th

Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its first ever game on Sunday June 9th, 2013 by replaying it in Victorian dress.

The club will also celebrate by putting on a fair for local residents at its Bushy Park main ground, off Bushy Park road, Hampton Wick.

Club Chairman Keith Nicholls and 1st XI captain Graeme Tong will lead two teams – Gentlemen and Players - to replay the opening game in Victorian dress and to Victorian rules set in 1835.

The match will start at 2pm alongside a range of entertainment for members of the public – particularly families - including bouncy castle, face painting, children’s entertainer, cake decorating, coconut shy, egg throwing competition, croquet and confectionary stall. There will be a fancy dress competition with a Victorian theme.

The Club bar will be open, there will additionally be a Pimms stall and BBQ food available throughout the day.

Club Chairman Keith Nicholls said of the day:

“The people of Hampton Wick created this cricket club in 1863 and bar the 1st world war years the club has continued to be a vital part of the sporting life of the village ever since. We want to welcome local residents to the club on June 9th to celebrate the anniversary and to enjoy a day in our fantastic park. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for good weather – 150 years ago 217 runs were scored and the Chairman’s side lost – I’m looking to put that right this time around, although some of my team members are almost old enough to have played the original fixture”.

The Club received its “Royal” name from the involvement of an early patron, His Serene Highness the Prince of Teck, a relative of Queen Victoria. The club was formally established at a meeting on May 13th1863.

HWRCC is a thriving club with more than 100 playing members and 150 Colts members, running four Saturday cricket teams in the Surrey Championship. Its 1st XI currently tops Division 5 and its 4th XI tops the West Division.