The civic plaque to mark Worcestershire CCC's 150th Anniversary is now on view to the general public to admire after being unveiled today on the Foregate Street wall of the Whitehouse Hotel.
A joint ceremony involving Worcs CCC and its partners Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council, culminated in the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Roger Knight, unveiling the plaque which will be seen by thousands of passers-by each day.
The ceremony was also attended by County Council Chairman, Cllr Ian Hopwood, Cllr Mike Johnson, City Council Cabinet member for Sport, Leisure and Retail, Worcs CCC Chief Executive David Leatherdale and Worcs Heritage Group chairman Tim Jones – who is also a Worcs CCC board member.
The plaque was originally put on view inside the hotel at a ceremony involving players and officials past and present on March 3 – the date the club was formed on in 1865 in the hotel which was then named the Star Hotel.
Until now only visitors to the hotel have been able to view it, but with its unveiling on the building’s exterior today everyone will be able to enjoy the plaque which was commissioned and organised by the Worcester Civic Society.
Worcestershire CCC commercial director Jon Graham said: "We had the start of everything in terms of the 150th Anniversary Year with the unveiling of the plaque in March at the Whitehouse Hotel with the Mayor of Worcester, vice-presidents, officials and ex-players and current players present.
"We wanted to have a symbolic unveiling at the time to coincide with the March 3 date when the club was founded at the hotel known as the Star Hotel.
"We are working in partnership with Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council quite heavily. Recently they have come together under the umbrella brand of World Class Worcestershire to become main partners with the shirt sponsorship on the shorter formats of the Rapids kit in T20 and the 50 over competition.
"So we did a joint unveiling today by the Mayor, and other councillors were there and David Leatherdale and Tim Jones were also present.
"It is good to see it on the wall of the building where the club was founded and thousands of people will see it everyday when they walk past it."
The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Roger Knight, said: “Our cricket club has enjoyed a momentous century and a half, regularly focussing the eyes of the world on our vibrant city and the beautiful ground at New Road.
"I am proud to be marking their anniversary and wish them the very best for the next 150 years.”
Councillor Ian Hopwood, Chairman of Worcestershire County Council said: "I am thrilled to be part of Worcestershire County Cricket Club 's 150th year celebrations.
"The unveiling of the plaque highlights just how far the county has come in recognition of our world class sporting prowess and the affection that cricket fans from across the world now have for the New Road ground, which is listed as one of the best in England.
"I wish the cricket club and its players all the success for upcoming matches."
Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: "It was a significant moment today. We unveiled the Tip Foster plaque at New Road last year, 100 years on from his death, and are proud to have another Civic Society plaque on the wall of the building where the club was founded 150 years.
"Hopefully people will walk past and recognise that the cricket club, which is only just down the road, has played a major part in the city. It can only be a good thing to have the building where it all started for the club being recognised by such a plaque."
