Over £75,000 was raised for disabled and disadvantaged youngsters at last Wednesday’s (7 October) Captains’ Dinner, which saw The Lord’s Taverners, cricket’s official recreational charity, honour the 30 living players who have captained their country.

The gala evening, which was hosted at the Hilton on Park Lane, had 17 former captains in attendance and also saw the launch The Lord’s Taverners Captain’s Award which recognises youngsters who have demonstrated outstanding examples of leadership, teamwork, motivation, inspiration and fair play.

The evening was hosted by Channel 5 presenter Mark Nicholas who interviewed Brian Close, Ted Dexter, Tony Greig – who had flown all the way from Sydney with his family to be at the dinner – Tony Lewis, Geoffrey Boycott, Mike Gatting, Bob Willis, Alec Stewart and Michael Atherton, while Sir Ian Botham and David Gower sent special video messages.

Tom Graveney and Mark Butcher, the oldest and youngest former Captains in attendance, presented the inaugural Captain’s Awards to Amy Boler, Captain of the Portland College Table Cricket team who triumphed in the Lord’s Taverners Table Cricket competition at Lord’s earlier this year and Tom Barnard Captain of the South London Under 14 Team that took part in this year’s Lord’s Taverners Ford Inner Cities Cup.

The Captain’s Grace by Richard Stilgoe - written for the inaugural giving of The Lord’s Taverners Captain’s Award in the presence of 17 Test Cricket Captains of England:

Who would be a captain?  Who would be that brave –

To be chosen by committees with a lot of face to save?

Who would be a captain, with a team that falls apart,

Spraining ankles playing football half an hour before the start?

Who would be a captain, from the moment you have tossed

To bravely telling Nasser all the reasons why you lost?

Who would be a captain, with the media on your back?

“You’re too timid in defence, and far too risky in attack!”

Who would be a captain? For most that’s just a dream;

The young people we look after are not even in the team –

Disadvantaged or disabled, people look at them askance.

Taverners don’t look away, but give them all a sporting chance.

Help us all do that tonight – in the auction be good tippers.

Eat wisely, ‘cos for afters we are going to have grilled skippers!

Give generously tonight, then when you roll back home again,

Your wives will all forgive you, and smile and say “Ah – Men!”

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