Presidents’ Memories – Mike Gatting
There have been 40 Presidents of the Lord’s Taverners. From the charity’s first ever President, Sir John Mills, to current President, David Gower, there has been a whole host of stellar names from the worlds of cricket and show business who have taken on the role.
Throughout our 70th anniversary year we’ll be speaking to as many former Presidents as possible to reflect on seven decades of the charity. On this occasion we hear from former England captain Mike Gatting who served as President from 2004-2006.
How did you first you get involved with the Lord’s Taverners?
Right at the beginning the Lord’s Taverners, to me, was ‘the’ cricket charity of the UK, and I’ve certainly been a beneficiary of some Lord’s Taverners funding that was given to certain clubs and foundations that were putting on coaching sessions for kids who couldn’t afford it.
Back in those days with the kit bags they used to send out as well, I just thought if ever I was in a situation where I could help then I’d really like to do that.
How much did you enjoy being President?
Being President was a great honour and a privilege. When you look at all the great people that have been President of the charity, people that I used to sit down and watch on the screen. Some great showbiz people. Eric Morecambe was someone I thought was so funny and Nicholas Parsons who must have been one of the longest serving members. All the great stuff they and so many others have done for the charity is brilliant.
What makes the Taverners special?
Above everything else it was always about trying to help kids and that’s what really hit home with me. The green minibuses were the main thing in the initial days, along with all the cricket bags, and the help the charity gave clubs and schools if it possibly could. Above all it’s about trying to give kids the opportunity to take part in sport that they otherwise wouldn’t get the chance to do.
What’s your best fundraising and/or charitable memory?
Whenever I’ve been able to visit a school we donated a minibus to, it’s a great thing to witness. Children there who are wheelchair users couldn’t get out and about in their community, but all of a sudden one of our minibuses came along and their faces changed.
Similarly, whenever I watch table cricket there’s always a tear in the eye because you just see the kids full of determination and pride playing in their team, and the passion… You can see they’ve been practising and it’s just got better and better every year. More and more teams have taken part and just the pride they show when being part of the team which is perhaps something they thought they could never do. Both minibuses and table cricket have been very, very important.
How far has the charity come since you first got involved?
Its always been about helping where we could and that’s how it all started in 1950 with all the actors in the Tavern and it’s been great to see it evolve from there.
That’s been a lovely thing about the charity, we’ve had some very good people helping us impact lives either through cricket or the donation of minibuses which has helped us contribute in the right way.