Cash boost for charity

ECB Chief Executive David Collier handed a £200,000 cheque to the Lord's Taverners during the charity's AGM and pre-season lunch at Lord's in April.

Collier presented the amount to Chris Tarrant who recently became the 36th president of The Lord’s Taverners, the leading youth sports charity and the official charity of recreational cricket which is dedicated to giving young people, particularly those with social, environmental, physical or learning disadvantages, a sporting chance.

David Collier hands over a £200,000 cheque to new Lord's Taverners president Chris Tarrant

Tarrant took over from outgoing president Bill Tidy MBE at the AGM and lunch, where a number of special presentations were made. These included England’s World Cup-winning women’s cricket team presenting a Lord’s Taverners minibus to Montacute School from Poole.

The 62 year-old cricket enthusiast follows in the illustrious footsteps of royalty, Oscar-winners and broadcasting legends, with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Earl of Wessex, Sir John Mills and Eric Morecambe all having held the position of President since the charity’s foundation in 1950.

A thrilled Tarrant said: “I am very honoured to have been asked to become the new president of such a prestigious charity which achieves so much in helping disadvantaged children. Bill has done a fantastic job over the past couple of years and I am extremely excited at becoming an integral part of this great organisation and helping to improve the lives of thousands of youngsters and families across the country.”

Matthew Patten, Chief Executive of The Lord’s Taverners, said: “We are delighted that Chris will be our new president. Chris has been a great supporter for over 30 years, giving up countless days of his time to help put a smile on children’s faces, and he will be a wonderful president.”