Bells Yew Green Cricket Club have announced that, to mark their 75th anniversary, they are to name their pavilion after their former President, after dinner comedian, Bob “the Cat” Bevan MBE.
During his Presidency from 1995 to 2009 Bevan led a £250,000-fund-raising campaign which secured a long-term lease on the ground and provided a new brick-built pavilion.
It is planned to mark the occasion at an open-house ceremony at 12 noon on Sunday 1 May, 2022, at the Bob the Cat Bevan Pavilion, The Nursery Ground, Cricketers Close, Bells Yew Green, TN3 9AL.
Commenting on the decision Bells Yew Green former Chairman and current Committee Member, Graham Piper, said, “There could be no more fitting and appropriate way to kick start our 75th Year Anniversary than by honouring Bob “the Cat” Bevan in this way.”
Bevan, who moved to the village almost 30 years ago, and was President of Kent County Cricket Club in 2013, said he was humbled by “the great honour. It was achieved not by one person but by a tremendous team effort involving all the members and villagers among whom I would single out the late John Hodson who was an especially generous supporter.”
On May 1 the Club will also be unveiling a plague in memory of Hodson.
Seven sports dinners at the High Rocks, Tunbridge Wells, were among the events Bevan organised attracting almost 2,000 supporters. Many legends of the game headed the nights including Sir Ian Botham, David “Bumble” Lloyd, Allan Lamb, Geoff Miller, Graeme Fowler, Rob Key, Derek Underwood and the late Mike Denness.
They were joined by football legends, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst, the late Sir Bobby Robson, Denis Law and Terry Venables as well as rugby international and broadcaster Martin Bayfield.
Bells Yew Green CC now runs four Saturday sides in the Sussex Cricket League, two Sunday teams, two Womens XIs along with a junior section of 140 members.