Thorncombe Charity Celebrity Cricket Match Over £6300 raised!

What a wonderful day and though the Celebrity Team won the match there were absolutely no losers – everyone was a winner because of the terrific spirit that prevailed throughout the day and in the end, the magnificent sum of £6300 raised for two very worthy charitable causes; The Magdalen Project and Leukaemia Research.

The Celebrity Team was captained by Hugh Fernley Whittingstall ably assisted by Oliver Letwin MP and Sir Neville Marriner with other team members from the worlds of music and sport. We were joined on the day by a good number of other personalities including Brigit and James Strawbridge from BBC2’s highly acclaimed "It’s not easy being green" and Daily Mail & Punch Cartoonist Sam Smith.

The Thorncombe Codgers team was very ably captained by Nigel Hawker, always ready to demonstrate his smooth brush strokes, and every trade and calling that the district could provide made up the team with Emily Gordon showing just how good the ladies can be at the game.

We were pleased to have the marshalling help of the Air Cadet Force from The Woodroffe School along with their Jazz Band who entertained us during the interval. The Thorncombe WI provided wonderful cream teas, with barbeque and a hog roast being cooked by a great team from The Essex Pig Company (Jimmie’s Farm from TV). The Sports and Social Club served a great real ale bar and the Magdalen kitchen laid on a wonderful pre-match buffet for the players and their supporters.

The afternoon was rounded off with a great selection of sporting memorabilia and other items being auctioned under the very capable and enthusiastic hammer of Oliver Letwin at which over £3000 was raised. The sun set to the hot beat of Blitz entertaining us with Phil Gordon on drums, playing a great array of music to dance and sing to.

Then the moon came up and we all went home tired yet very satisfied with the great day that had been enjoyed – It looks like this is set to become an annual game so watch out for news of next year’s event!