2010 is the Diamond Jubilee of The Lord’s Taverners. To commemorate 60 fantastic years of having fun while fundraising, we aim to raise an additional £500,000 to help give even more disadvantaged youngsters a sporting chance.

History

Our long and eventful journey began in the old Tavern at Lord’s after a Test match defeat by the West Indies. Drowning their sorrows, a group of actors decided that “something must be done”. Led by Martin Boddey, the Founding Chairman, our Club was born on 3 July 1950 in the Circle Bar of the Comedy Theatre. By September, 71 Members had signed up, John Mills had been elected President and our first charitable donation of £50 had been made to the NPFA (National Playing Fields Association). This was at the suggestion of the 29-year-old Prince Philip, who was cajoled into become our Twelfth Man, a role he still actively plays today.

Our first major function, a ball at The Grosvenor House (an ambitious project costing £2,000 when we had just £14 in our current account), featured a cricket match in the Great Room. No Health & Safety constraints then, as The Lord’s Taverners took on the Rest of the World. Prince Philip attended with his radiant bride, soon to be Queen. The Lord’s Taverners had been expansively launched.

Now, almost 60 years on, we are ready to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee. Much has changed, but we have remained true to our roots: cricket, fun and raising money to help give disadvantaged young people a sporting chance. So the year ahead should be one of joy, of camaraderie and laughter and grateful thanks for the vision of our founding fathers. They could not possibly have foreseen the success of our Club as it is today, but surely they look down on us from that great pavilion in the sky and feel very, very proud. Sixty years young, but this is not a one-day 60-over match. It’s a full five-day Test and our best is yet to come.


Diamond Jubilee Patrons

• Judith Chalmers OBE
• Alastair Cook
• Ronnie Corbett OBE
• Sir David Frost OBE     
• Mike Gatting OBE
• Rachael Heyhoe Flint OBE DL
• Joan Morecambe
• Nicholas Parsons OBE LLD DA
• Robert Powell
• Mark Ramprakash
• Sir Tim Rice
• The Lord Rix Kt CBE DL
• Richard Stilgoe OBE DL
• Chris Tarrant OBE
• Bill Tidy MBE
• Sir Terry Wogan KBE DL

Diamond Jubilee Partners

Insurance broker, Towergate Risk Solutions, and insurer Chubb Insurance, have formed a partnership to sponsor, and raise funds for, our Diamond Jubilee year.

Both companies are active fundraisers. The Towergate Charitable Foundation has generated over £2m in the last two years, while Chubb was a recent winner of the insurance industry’s ‘Charity Initiative of the Year’ award.

Both are now lending their considerable energy to The Lord’s Taverners.

As an expert broker in the field of specialist personal insurance and wealth-management, Towergate is unwavering in its goal of offering its clients reliable cover with impeccable service.  For that reason, Towergate wholeheartedly recommends Chubb’s Masterpiece policy for homes and cars.  At the industry’s Insurance Times Awards, Chubb has been voted ‘Personal Lines Insurer of the Year’ an unprecedented seven times in the last ten years.

And, for every Chubb Masterpiece policy bought from Towergate by one of our members, they will make a donation — to give even more youngsters the sporting chance they deserve.

For a quote or more information please call 01823 625 504 or click here.
 

Diamond Jubilee Events

During 2010 we hope to deliver some memorable and fun occasions right across the UK. Although some of the dates are not yet confirmed at the time of writing, an early indication of the proposed calendar of events is as follows:

• 21 January: Diamond Jubilee Launch - click here
• 20 March: Diamond Ball at the London Hilton on Park Lane - click here
• 28 April: Day trip to Champagne - click here
• TBC June/July Founders Day at Lord’s Cricket Ground
• 8 July: Diamond Jubilee Cocktail Party in the grounds of Westminster Abbey
• TBC July: 60-hour Cricket Match
• TBC September: Cricket at Lord’s Cricket Ground
• 17 October: Diamond Jubilee Lunch at Langan’s

For up-to-date information about the above and additional Diamond Jubilee events please call 020 7821 2828.

Diamond Jubilee Merchandise

Merchandise such as ties and pin badges themed to the Diamond Jubilee year will be available to members from 10 Buckingham Place. To download a Diamond Jubilee merchandise order form please click here. For more details please call 020 7821 2828.

Further information

For more information about Diamond Jubilee events where you live, or to find out how you can help make 2010 a year to remember, please contact your Regional Chairman. Contact details can be found here.