The Mayor of Bath joined celebrations at Lansdown Cricket Club to mark its 200th anniversary as all 12 secondary schools in the city came together for the very first time in a city-wide Festival of Cricket.
The pupils who took part in the first Festival of Cricket at Lansdown Cricket Club | Photo © Lansdown Cricket Club
Held at the club’s historic Combe Park ground, the all-day event was the brainchild of Oldfield School headteacher Andy Greenhough and brought together close to 100 boys and girls from across Bath.
In a landmark collaboration, joint teams were formed by pupils from both state and independent schools, playing a series of round robin fixtures in the sunshine.
The festival, which was sponsored by Goughs Solicitors and Mainly Media, and supported by 12 schools in the city, is believed to be a unique moment in Bath’s sporting history.
Players were cheered on by special guest Mollie Robbins, Somerset Women’s County cricketer, who also helped oversee the matches. The event aligned closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s Action Plan for Cricket, which highlights the limited access to cricket in many state schools and encourages partnerships with the independent sector.
This initiative also reflects the growing national momentum to level the playing field in school cricket, echoing the recent announcement by the MCC Foundation of the Knight-Stokes Cup, a new national competition for state school pupils which is set to launch in 2026.
The day concluded with a victory for the joint team from Oldfield School and Kingswood School, who were awarded trophies and medals by the Mayor, Somerset County Cricket Club Foundation’s chair Winston Duguid, and Mollie Robbins.
The Mayor of Bath Councillor Professor Bharat Pankhania, praised the initiative, saying: “This festival represents the very best of Bath – collaboration, community spirit, and a love of sport.
“It is a shining example of how our city can come together to create inclusive and inspiring opportunities for young people.”
Mr Greenhough said: “It was a wonderful day to celebrate cricket and it all started with a meeting with the exuberant David Dolman at Lansdown Cricket Club last summer.
“After a lot of preparation, it was great to see all the schools competing and working together and breaking down potential barriers between independent and state schools. What better way to do this than playing cricket.
“I hope this will be the start of more collaborative and team cricket events across Bath. We have big plans for next year.
“A big thank you to our sponsors, to all the schools who have been enthusiastic in their support, and to Lansdown Cricket Club for being so supportive.’’
Lansdown Cricket Club chairman Scott Longstaff said: “The festival forms part of the club’s strategy for helping four local schools to promote cricket. We send a qualified coach into the schools for regular coaching sessions which we hope will encourage children to continue the game by joining the club. These children are our future.’
Lansdown Cricket Club continues its bicentenary celebrations this summer with a full programme of community events, fixtures, and fundraising activities. Find out more at www.lansdowncricketclub.co.uk.
