DIGNITARIES gathered at the Whitehouse Hotel for the unveiling of a plaque to mark 150 years of cricket in the city.
The civic plaque to mark Worcestershire CCC 150th anniversary was mounted on the Foregate Street wall of the Whitehouse Hotel last Wednesday (July 8).
A joint ceremony involving Worcestershire CCC, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council, culminated in the Mayor of Worcester, Coun Roger Knight, unveiling the plaque which will be seen by thousands of passers-by each day.
Pears Chief Executive David Leatherdale, County Council chairman Coun Ian Hopwood and Worcester Heritage Group chairman Tim Jones were among the guests at the ceremony.
The plaque was originally put on view inside the hotel at a ceremony involving players and officials past and present on March 3 – the date the club was formed on in 1865 in the hotel which was then named the Star Hotel.
Until now only visitors to the hotel have been able to view it, but with its unveiling on the building’s exterior everyone will be able to enjoy the plaque which was commissioned and organised by the Worcester Civic Society.
Worcestershire CCC commercial director Jon Graham said: “It will be good to see it on the wall and it will take pride of place at where it all began for the club.
“Thousands of people will see it everyday when they walk past it,” he added.
Mayor of Worcester, Coun Roger Knight, said: “Our cricket club has enjoyed a momentous century and a half, regularly focussing the eyes of the world on our vibrant city and the beautiful ground at New Road.
“I am proud to be marking their anniversary and wish them the very best for the next 150 years.”
Coun Ian Hopwood, Chairman of Worcestershire County Council said: “The unveiling of the plaque highlights just how far the county has come in recognition of our world class sporting prowess and the affection that cricket fans from across the world now have for the New Road ground, which is listed as one of the best in England.
Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: “We unveiled the Tip Foster plaque at New Road last year, 100 years on from his death, and are proud to have another Civic Society plaque on the wall of the building where the club was founded 150 years.
“Hopefully people will walk past and recognise that the cricket club, which is only just down the road, has played a major part in the city.
“It can only be a good thing to have the building where it all started for the club being recognised by such a plaque,” he added.
