The Lord's Taverners have come up trumps for
Bideford CC with a grant of £3,000 towards the cost of a new artificial wicket at
Westward Ho!
Club members - particularly in the Colts' section - helped raise the rest of the cash
towards the project together with a grant from the Bideford Bridge Trust.
The youngsters and their parents raised more than £800 with a sponsored walk.
The Colts' section will be the main users of the new carpet, so it was fitting that it was
officially opened on their practice night last week.
Former Test match umpire David Shepherd, from Instow, did the honours, handing over the
Lords' Taverners' cheque to club chairman Brian Champion.
He told the large number of Colts present that one of them could be the
next Andrew Flintoff and praised Bideford for its fine Colts' record.
Accepting the cheque, Brian Champion paid tribute to the work of Colts'
organiser Andy Davies and his team, who coach upwards of 70 youngsters every Wednesday
night.
Other dignitaries present included Matt Theedom, the ECB development manager for Devon
and Cllr Peter Christie, representing the local authority and also the Bideford Bridge
Trust.
