Over the past 12 months the Bearsted CC 275 committee has been working hard to arrange a number of exciting events to mark this important landmark in the club’s history.

The BIG kick off will be the BCC 275 Gala Dinner taking place at the Great Danes (Mercure) Hotel on Saturday 13th April – more information on the event and how to book tickets can be found by clicking on this link.

Following closely on from the dinner, and throughout the season, the club has also arranged a number of 275 and celebratory ‘friendly’ fixtures against showpiece opposition. Playing teams will be selected in the usual way by the club (players please set availability in the normal way) based on the expected standard of the opposition – but the club will try where possible to get all those seniors, who want to play, a game.

The current fixtures include:

Mon 27th May v Dissidents CC – 2pm on The Green

Dissidents CC are a local nomadic team with whom Bearsted CC have traditionally held regular fixtures. The match has been arranged also to remember friend of the club, Piers McDonald. Piers, who sadly passed away during last season, was a regular plater for Dissidents.

Sunday 16th June – Honourable Artillery Company – AWAY

The match against the Honourable Artillery Company represents a repeat of the FIRST EVER FORMALLY RECORDED OPPONENTS for Bearsted Cricket Club – and the reason we are celebrating our 275 years of continuous cricket.

The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is a unique six-acre estate based in the City of London (Armoury House, City Road, London EC1Y 2BQ). As the oldest regiment in the British Army, it was set up by Henry VIII back in 1537 to offer support to the now prestigious establishment. Since 1768, the HAC has provided Guards of Honour in the City for visiting members of the Royal Family, overseas Heads of State or Commonwealth Prime Ministers.

The Artillery Garden: over five acres of fresh green grass hidden in the Square Mile. As the only cricket pitch available to hire in the City, the garden is highly sought after by teams celebrating special occasion and by other sports leagues, including rugby and football. More information on this spectacular venue can be found here.

Sun 4th August v Ripley CC – 2pm on The Green

Ripley CC from Surrey were also formed in 1749 and are therefore also marking the occasion of their 275th anniversary in 2024.

Tues 6th August – MCC – 11am on the Green (all day game)

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London. The club was formerly the governing body of cricket retaining considerable global influence.

MCC is the world's most active cricket club. From first-class fixtures to games against schools and clubs celebrating important landmarks, during the high point of the summer, MCC can be found playing in up to fifteen fixtures at one time across the UK. The Club also undertakes several overseas tours each year, helping develop the game around the world.

Sunday 15th Sept – Kent Over 50s – 2pm on The Green

ARE YOU AT LEAST 49 YEARS OLD and enjoy playing competitive cricket without the unpleasantness this is right team! Kent ‘Overs’ run two Over 50 teams, at least four Over 60 teams and three Over 70 teams so are able to provide proper cricket! Kent Overs has teams in the National Competition and others in local leagues.

Sunday 29th Sept – Honourable Artillery Company – 2pm on The Green

To close the season we will be inviting the Honourable Artillery Company to visit us at the Green for a repeat of the away match in June.

Hopefully the sun will shine on all of these special matches and we would encourage as many members, supporters and the community to come out and support the club, and celebrate with us. Why not bring a picnic to the Green and spend the day enjoying the most English of sporting pastimes with the club and your friends.

In addition to the dinner and the ceremonial matches, the 275 committee has also arranged (or are finalising) many other 275 related event.

Thanks to Kent Cricket, the BCC junior section have been invited to be Flag Bearers at a Kent Spitfires T20 Vitality Blast match in July, which is due to be live televised by Sky Sports. More information on the dates and the plans will be shared with the junior membership and their parents during the season.

As the eagle eyes will have noticed, the club has also temporality adapted our club crest to mark the important anniversary. This this will come some special commemorative clothing for both leisure wear and playing. The leisurewear shop will be launched online soon and the brand new custom Gary Nichols BCC 275 playing and training kit being will be available well beore the start of the season.

With the support of the Bearsted Parish Council, we will be planting a commemorative tree with plaque, on the Green and the revised history of the club book, which is currently being compiled, will be ready for the start of April. Alongside this the 275 committee presenting to the local history society at their AGM in May and plan to have the pavilion open on fayre day for a "walk through" displaying some of the history of the club. There will also be limited edition 275th Anniversary ‘drone pictures’ of the club and the Green, available to the public for sale.

More information to follow on all of this as we have it.

And that is not all… to continue to support our key position in the local community, the club has volunteers committed to providing an "introduction to cricket" to local children at the summer playscheme and will be arranging a number of cricket "masterclasses". Anyone is welcome.

For more information or to discuss possible ideas for our celebratory year please contact Club President and Chair, 275 Committee, Steve Pearce (07740 796 002).