Worcestershire Heritage Co-Ordinator Tim Jones will be highlighting the club’s rich history during the forthcoming home clash with Kent as part of the Red Ball Festival Of Cricket being staged over the four days of the game from Thursday 22 August.
Tim has organised for an exhibition of normally unseen Worcestershire memorabilia to be displayed in the EBC Suite in Level Three of The View to complement the vast array of material already on show in the Graeme Hick Pavilion.
But in addition he will be conducting guided tours of Visit Worcestershire New Road throughout the game to highlight key factors and personnel which have illuminated the club’s glorious past.
The club are hoping to see a packed crowd to not only get behind the team but also promote four-day cricket to a wider audience and Tim’s contribution is one of many attractions lined up from August 22 to 25.
Ticket prices have been reduced to £10 for the game with juniors able to enter for free.
Tim Jones said: “The purpose is two fold. One is celebrating our memorabilia collection in the pavilion but, on top of that, there is going to be an exhibition of other items which are normally held in storage that we don’t see.
“We will bring them out so supporters can look at them as well. They will complement what can be seen in the pavilion and will be on display on Level Three of The View.
“In this section there will be a lot of team photos, individual photos, scorebooks, scrapbooks, and a display of shirts that have been worn over the years.
“That dovetails nicely with the tours of the ground I’m doing as well and it will consist of a series of stopping off places around the ground which celebrate the history of the club.”
Tim added: “I start off underneath The View, where the groundsman used to have his small holding. I stop off before for what was Don Kenyon’s tree and talk about him in the 1960s.
“Just before we get to the nets, there is a red leaf Oak tree which was planted for Phil Neale and we can talk about the 1980s.
“As we move around the ground, we will talk about the old scoreboard and the Supporters’ Association which helped in terms of financing that and purchasing the ground.
“We get to the Basil D’Oliveira Stand, with Basil and his contribution, the Colours board, but also references to some of the greats like the Foster family and some of the other great names.
“As we move along hopefully we are looking at the unveiling of two boards, one a flood board and a captain’s gallery.
“Then we go to the Ladies Pavilion and then finish off in the pavilion with a) all the memorabilia and b) to talk about Tom Graveney and Graeme Hick.
“We are hoping to do one or two tours a day, and there will be tours for the junior supporters as well.
“On Saturday we also host our annual Memorabilia Market in the Chestnut Marquee.”
Supporters are invited to enjoy a picnic on the pitch during lunch on the outfield each day, and a lunch hamper featuring sandwiches, scones and cakes plus a bottle of prosecco is available to add to your ticket order.
On Thursday the focus will be on junior supporters, with Tim’s child-friendly ground tour, and a family fun trail plus activities on the pitch with the Worcestershire Cricket Foundation.
There will also be inflatable bouncy castles, games in the Scoreboard Square and a fun floor board unveiled behind the Basil D’Oliveira Stand.
Ground tours with Tim Jones
Thursday 22nd | 10:45am, plus 10am and 3pm juniors tours
Friday 23rd | 10:45am & 3pm
Saturday 24th | 10:45am
