The Cricket Derbyshire Foundation has received a grant of £72,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to create an oral history of cricket in Derbyshire.
Led by a Project Manager and local volunteers, the Oral History of Cricket in Derbyshire Project will focus on collecting audio-visual reminiscences about cricket at every level within the county, from grassroots to the Test arena.
It follows the successful completion of the Club’s first HLF project, which saw the collation of over 1,500 images depicting the history of cricket within the county from its origins in the 19th century to the modern day.
The new oral history project will enable volunteers to capture the recollections and memories of former Test and county cricketers, spectators of all ages and from all backgrounds, club cricketers, women, disabled and partially-sighted cricketers, officials, scorers, umpires, groundstaff and all the other people who make up the fabric of cricket in the county of Derbyshire.
The Cricket Derbyshire Foundation (Charity No.1155801) has a number of aims and objectives, one of which is to advance education for the public benefit in the history and heritage of cricket in Derbyshire.
This project will offer, for the first time, an opportunity to hear insights into the game of cricket from those who play or have played the game, and also from those who watch or participate in other ways.
The project forms part of HLF’s Sporting Lives campaign, designed to encourage more applications for projects exploring the proud and sometimes unusual sporting history of the East Midlands.
Project Manager, David Griffin said: “We are delighted to have the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and we’re really looking forward to hearing not just from the greats of Derbyshire cricket, but also from the unsung heroes throughout the county who make such a significant contribution to the game.
“We are now looking for volunteers, of all ages and backgrounds, to support the project, both in front of and behind the camera who will get the opportunity to develop skills and potentially interview some of Derbyshire’s greatest players.
“We’re looking for people with a story to tell. Of course we want to hear from Devon Malcolm, Bob Taylor and Michael Holding, the greats of Derbyshire cricket, but just as important will be recording memories from the stalwarts of club cricket in Derbyshire; the people who make the teas, prepare the pitches, scorers, umpires and spectators.”
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, added: “We know that the East Midlands has a sporting history that rivals anywhere in the world, but much of this only exists tucked away in clubhouses, dusty attics and people’s memories. Our Sporting Lives campaign aims to support people to conserve and share heritage that is important to them before it is lost for good.
“Projects like this are a great use of National Lottery players’ money, telling stories of sportsmen and women who are often underrepresented. Work by organisations like the Cricket Derbyshire Foundation has shown us the power of these projects can have on people and communities, and we would like to support similar projects across the East Midlands.”
For more information or to get involved with the project, please email Heritage Project Manager, David Griffin, on [email protected].
