February Newsletter
One of the areas we are looking to improve as a club is how we communicate with our members and friends, so here is the first newsletter of 2024. We hope to provide these on a regular(ish) basis throughout the year.
As you may know, 2024 is a very special year for our club. 400 years ago, Jasper Vinall became the first recorded fatality whilst playing cricket at Horsted Keynes. This is one of the earliest recordings of cricket, and Jasper was immortalised in John Major's defining history of the game "The Story of Cricket".
The 1624 Committee has been working hard over the winter and has developed a programme of activity for the year ahead. We want this celebration to run throughout the season and to showcase all that is - and has been - great about both the Cricket Club and the village.
Two of the most special commissions for the year are a painting of the ground by Oliver Pyle and a new poem for the anniversary by our very own bard, Steve Hitchen. Both are now complete and are worthy of our history. Limited edition prints of the painting will be available, and I am confident that we will all want one.
Our first event of the year will be the unveiling/first reading of both in The Crown on the 15th March. Also available for pre-order will be the 1624 souvenir brochure - with forward by Simon Hughes, which will be one for coffee tables for decades to come. I hope all will be able to join us on that night and welcome in our very special season.
The other events frame the season and follow. They will shortly be on Sportmember - but put them in your diaries now. I hope that you and your friends and families will come to as many as possible.
Friday 15 March – 7pm - Season and picture launch event at The Crown
Sunday 5 May - Married of Horsted Keynes v Unmarried of Horsted Keynes cricket match – A traditional fixture from the 1800s and the first full scorecard we have a record of.
Saturday 11 May - First league game at home to Coleman’s Hatch
Sunday 19 May - Cricket Match v West Hoathly – The village where Jasper Vinall was from.
Sunday 25 May - Interclub 6 a side day
Monday 3 June – Open committee meeting to discuss the club long term plan
August Cricket Week
Sunday 18 August - HKCC alumni (captained by Tom Robinson) v HKCC
Monday 19 August - Wed 21 August - Juniors Summer school
Sunday 25 August - HKCC 400 Anniversary Ball
Wednesday 28 August - 400 years of Cricket in the Village - Ceremony at the club.
Sunday 1 September - Return match at West Hoathly
Saturday 28 September - End of season awards and 1624 closing event
The Committee are keen to use this occasion to support the long-term future of our wonderful club, at the heart of our wonderful village.
As you can see, this will be a year to celebrate the whole club, its past, present, future, and its place in Horsted Keynes. I hope that all of us will get involved in organising, supporting, and helping at the events. Details of how to get involved will be available on the 15th but do get in touch with any of the committee - or the event organisers - if you would like to get going earlier.
We are also appealing for broader help across the club this year. We are looking for anyone interested in joining our grounds team to assist with pitch preparation. Experience is not required; training will be given. The ball organisers are also appealing for anyone who is interested to help with organising the auction at the ball, one of the major fundraisers for the club. For further details, please speak to anyone on the committee.
With the increased attention on the club this year, it is a great time to become a sponsor. If you or anyone you know is interested, then please get in touch to find out what we can offer.
Finally, the club is looking to step up our training offering this year, watch this space for news on upcoming nets!
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on 15th March.
Oli Wright
Chairman