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Brit Insurance
YOUNG CRICKETER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
In the lead-up to the 2004 annual dinner, the Club was approached by Brit
Insurance with a view to whether they could make some sort of contribution
to an event. They wanted an active involvement with the Cricket Writers'
Club membership, but perhaps something other than a golf day or a drinks
function...?
The Club's dinner committee were delighted to be given the chance to come
up with a suggestion, as we had for some time wondered about what we could
do in and around the annual dinner that would be of added benefit both to
the Club and to the status of the dinner itself.
After discussion, it was decided that the Young Cricketer of the Year Award
was something that could be utilised. It is the Club's most prestigious
award, dating back to 1950, and it is also an award which guarantees any
sponsor some sort of mention in most newspapers and cricket journals.
Brit were suggesting a level of sponsorship they would be willing to give to
the Club, and initially it was agreed that they would come on board for three
years - putting us in line with the time-span of their current sponsorship of
The Brit Oval and Surrey County Cricket Club.
Given the longevity of the award, and the fact that sadly some of the
earliest winners (eg Peter May, Colin Cowdrey and Kenny Barrington) have
passed away, it was decided that the Brit sponsorship gave the Club the
perfect opportunity to honour further a good number of former winners by
inviting them back to a CWC dinner, with their wives or partners, as
special guests. We also decided to invite former winners in chronological
order, from 1950 onwards.
Brit were also delighted with this suggestion, given the association they
would then have with many famous former cricketers, as well as with the
award itself.
And so, at the 2004 dinner, the first group of former winners were duly
invited to attend as VIP guests. Mandy Ripley was appointed to act as the
Club's liaison 'officer', with both Brit and the former winners and their
wives, and Mandy worked exceptionally hard to ensure that all arrangements
were made and that the evening went smoothly.
Unfortunately, Geoff Pullar and his wife Patricia were unable to attend at
the last minute - due to Geoff feeling poorly on the morning of the dinner
and not feeling he was well enough to travel down from Lancashire - but all
the other guests duly attended and, unanimously, said they "felt like
royalty" (to quote one former winner).
Fittingly, the very first CWC Young Cricketer of the Year from 1950 -
former England and Lancashire off-spinner Roy Tattersall - was able to
present Ian Bell, the 2004 winner, with the trophy. Bell, to the added
pleasure of all the former winners, then spent quite some time chatting to
them all at the end of the dinner formalities.
Those who attended last year (with former winners on one table, hosted by
Brit, and wives/partners on an adjacent table, hosted by Mandy) were: Roy
and Phyllis Tattersall, David and Joyce Allen, Bob and Yvonne Cottam, Colin
and Susan Ingleby-McKenzie, Peter and Jill Parfitt, Phil and Susan Sharpe,
Micky and Sheila Stewart, and Brian Taylor.
Brit's sponsorship allowed the Club to offer every guest full travel
expenses to and from London, accommodation at the Hotel Intercontinental,
the cost of the dinner tickets, and other out-of-pocket expenses. In
addition, Brit paid a sum (as part of their overall sponsorship)
directly to the Club as a facility fee. This helped to cover our own
expenses.
I would like to place on record the dinner committee's thanks to Brit for
their imaginative and generous sponsorship, to Tom Maidment and WSM who act
for Brit, and to C&G for kindly donating C&G Trophy final tickets for three
of our guests (and their wives)
For the 2005 dinner, it is hoped that another 10 former Young Cricketer of
the Year Award winners, such as Derek Underwood, Geoff Boycott, Alan Knott
and Pullar (we have offered him the opportunity to come this year instead),
will be in attendance.
Mark Baldwin
CWC Dinner Committee Chairman
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