Bearsted - Kent - England - Summer 2025
Coming July’25 The Roosters will enjoy their fifteenth tour since the first tout to York in 1997. The destination is the beautiful village of Bearsted in the countryside of Kent. The Roosters will play two 30 overs games versus Bearsted Cricket Club, founded in 1749.
The club’s official birth date is Monday 14th August 1749 – the day the Eleven Gentlemen of Bearsted played the Gentlemen of London at the Artillery Ground, Finsbury Square, London, for one guinea per man. Un fortunately, the club, which regarded itself as local champions, overreached itself and London won ‘with great ease’, according to the Whitehall Evening Post report.
For a hundred years or so, the Green was very inconveniently bisected by a footpath. But mid1870s, it happened that four of the team were Parish councilors. In next to no time, an order was passed to grass over the path, though a trace of it can still be seen beside the pavilion.
Many famous names are associated with Bearsted cricket. Alfred Mynn (1807-1861), ‘The Lion of Kent’, played and lived in the village for many years till his death in 1861. His outsize figure features on the village sign. A.P. ‘Tich’ Freeman (1888-1965), the great Kent and England leg-spinner, lived in Bearsted after his retirement in a house called ‘Dunbolin’ and played fot the club occasionally. Arguably, the most influential of Bearsted’s famous residents was Sir Pelham ‘Plum’ Warner (1873-1963), captain of England in the 1900s.
Many professional cricketers came to play on the Green at his invitation, including the 1929 South African touring team. Another less conventional visitor was Baroness Emma Orckzy (1865-1947), author of The Scarlet Pimpernel books and an early Woman’s Right Supporter. She and local suffragettes reportedly invaded the pitch during the game.
With high expectations The Roosters are looking forward to visit Bearsted Cricket club with and, for sure, will be dressed properly to this occasion.