Are you a keen collector or admirer of early original cricket memorabilia or perhaps you possess some interesting contemporary items that you've used during games you've played in or bought at matches you've been to? If you are or have something of cricketing interest then Paul Argyle the Club's Archivist would like to hear from you.
As part of the Club's 40th Anniversary Celebrations and to compliment the interior refurbishment of the Clubhouse, Paul has loaned us a display cabinet to exhibit museum type pieces.
Period items which have already been made available to the Club include - before the 1970 amalgamation - a 1957 Fixture Card (pictured) - thought to be the earliest known surviving example and a 1958 scorebook which were both owned and used by members of the then Bideford and District and Bideford & Westward Ho! Cricket Clubs.
An early team photograph and a book written by Peter Adams - Club President - have also been provided to feature in an exhibition to celebrate the Club's 40th anniversary and to compliment the interior refurbishment of the Clubhouse.
Paul said, "Most Clubs have a trophy cabinet, a Hall of Fame or nostalgia area and while our display is not going to be of Lords Long Room proportions or quality when this cabinet became available it was a good opportunity to showcase some of the Club's heritage and history particularly in this commemorative year."
Any non-members wishing to be an exhibitor and who are familiar with or about the Club's background and who've got any items they'd like to either loan or donate to us, will receive a written guest invitation to our 40th Anniversary match against Devon Dumplings in August, a contributor's acknowledgement with photographs in the local newspapers covering the game, and an insertion in this years special edition edition of the Fixture Card.
Items suitable for display in the cabinet include early player and team photographs, postcards of the ground, small books, programmes, autographs, newspaper articles, items of cricket kit and equipment, winners medals, small trophies, and almost anything else of cricket relevance and interest.
All offers of donations will be considered but preference will be given to those with a link to the Club. Space in the cabinet is limited but every effort will be made to rotate the exhibits to ensure that each piece has the same amount of display time.
