Jennie de Mellow

Jennie de Mellow is press officer at Hambledon Cricket Club, founded in 1750 and one of the most famous in the country.

By helping develop the laws of the game – including such introductions as length bowling and the addition of a third stump – the club earned its reputation as ‘the home of cricket’, a title by which it is still known.

The glory years of Hambledon were the latter half of the 18th century, the development of the game passing to MCC in 1787 with Hambledon reverting to a village club.

The club is now based at Ridge Meadow, an idyllic cricket ground set amongst some of Hampshire’s prettiest countryside just down the road from the Bat & Ball pub and Broadhalfpenny Down.

And they had big plans for their involvement in NatWest CricketForce 2008 - not least the replacement of their fire-damaged pavilion.