Tom Graveney, Mike Gatting & Chris Cowdrey to attend fundraiser hosted by Simon Hughes

A fundraising dinner in support of improving Chiswick House’s cricket facilities is to take place on Saturday 9th February at the Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club. The dinner will be attended by three former England captains -Tom Graveney, Mike Gatting, Chris Cowdrey (who will also run the auction) and by cricket commentator Simon Hughes.

Proceeds will go initially towards installing a new non-turf pitch (to run alongside the newly improved grass ‘square’ and outfield) and to upgrade changing facilities in the Pavilion. The fund-raising committee is considering occasional celebrity charity fixtures at Chiswick House in the future.

Currently the ground is used by three sides. The third and fourth elevens of Chiswick & Latymer Cricket Club play around 20 matches a year in the Thames Valley League on Saturdays through the season. The club also runs an active Colts programme for 9-15 year olds. Ealing Wanderers play on the ground on Sundays. Parry’s Whippets play some 10-12 matches (20 overs a side) in evenings mid-week.

Cricket has been played in Chiswick House and Gardens for over 100 years. When Chiswick House was leased to the Tukes family in 1892 extensions of the House were used for patients of the Tuke’s asylum. The Tukes were keen cricketers and constructed the cricket pitch near the Staveley Road entrance. Patients were encouraged to play against teams from outside

Cricket has been played regularly since 1946 when Turnham Green Cricket Club received permission from the Council to play on the site at weekends. For 6-7 years, from the end of the 1940s, celebrity cricket matches were played at the ground every summer. Jack Robertson, Dennis Compton, Bill Edrich, Colin Cowdrey and Gary Sobers are just some of the famous cricketers who played here.

January 16, 2008