Higham Ferrers Mayor joins celebrations marking 150 years of local cricket
The Mayor of Higham Ferrers was honoured to attend celebrations at Rushden & Higham Town Cricket Club as the club marked an impressive 150 years in existence.
Despite the rain in the final week of August, the club’s anniversary celebrations went ahead in true British fashion. On Wednesday, August 27, Chris O’Rourke, Mayor of Higham Ferrers, joined the Mayor of Rushden, Janet Pinnock, to meet members of the Rushden & Higham team and wish them well ahead of their match against the iconic Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
The wet weather may have dampened the pitch, but it did little to dampen spirits. The morning included an engaging talk from Carl Warner, Imperial War Museum Curator and Honorary Club Historian, who shared stories from the club’s long history.
Following lunch, provided by The Carriage House, Higham Ferrers, the match got underway with free admission for spectators. The anniversary celebrations also included a raffle and a display of historical club memorabilia, charting the club’s history since 1876. Among the items on display were old committee meeting minute books, which revealed that chasing player’s match fees and their annual subscriptions is a perennial problem!
The rain-affected fixture was shortened to 20 overs per side, with bowlers limited to a maximum of four overs each. There was some excellent cricket from both teams, with strong performances with both bat and ball.
Club Secretary, Benjamin Hodges, highlighted the performances of Rushden & Higham’s overseas professional, Chana Ruwanisiri, who scored 55 runs from just 23 balls. However, the man of the match was Matthew Wildman, who scored 23 runs and took two wickets. At the close of play, MCC emerged victorious, beating Rushden & Higham Town Cricket Club by 15 runs.
The Mayor was delighted to join players, club members and the local community in celebrating this significant milestone in the club’s history. Councillor O’Rourke said: “It was lovely to meet and chat to so many there and enjoy a lovely lunch.”
The 150th anniversary celebrations provided a fitting opportunity to reflect on the club’s long-standing place within the local community and the generations of players, volunteers and supporters who have helped make Rushden & Higham Town Cricket Club what it is today.