Lord's Taverners have been helping youngsters for 75 years

Lord's Taverners celebrate after reaching 75 not out

Who hasn't seen one of the Lord's Taverners' distinctive mini-buses, festooned in green, red and blue, ferrying youngsters around?

The cricket charity was founded in 1950 by a group of BBC stalwarts, including Test Match Special legend Brian 'Jonners' Johnston, Desert Island Discs host Roy Plomley, and actors Sir John Mills (whose numerous roles included Professor Quatermass) and Jack Hawkins (who played Sir Thomas Picton – a distant relative of mine – in the film, Waterloo). 

They devised the idea in the Tavern pub next to Lord's, when England were losing to West Indies at HQ in the second Test of that summer.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was patron and 'Twelfth Man' of the charity for 71 years. He hosted an LT event, involving a basketball contest with the Harlem Globetrotters, in London in November 1963. He has now been succeeded by his son, Edward. 

Celebrity supporters have included Richard Attenborough, Ronnie Corbett, Ainsley Harriott, Eric Morecambe, Barry Norman, Laurence Olivier, Michael Parkinson, Nicholas Parsons, Esther Rantzen, Tim Rice, Brian Rix, Colin Salmon, Harry Secombe, Terry Wogan, and the founder of The Cricketer, Sir Pelham Warner.

Margaret Thatcher was the first Lady Taverner as a specific membership category.

The first official match in the history of the charity was played in August 1953 against Bishop’s Stortford CC; Denis Compton struck 36 in an over. He was one of four Test players in the inaugural Taverners game, with Godfrey Evans, Jack Martin (Kent) and Norman ‘Mandy’ Mitchell-Innes (Somerset) joining him. The actors included Robin Hood himself (Richard Greene), and a crowd of 5,000 watched the game, helping to raise £235 for the National Playing Fields Association.

The Prince of Wales played occasionally, with one particular match grabbing the crowd's attention. In a game between the Lord's Taverners XI and RAF Cranwell in July 1971, Prince Charles played for the RAF Cranwell side and arrived at the crease on horseback. He made 17 (presumably after dismounting) before being bowled by Ken Barrington.

I’ve been to some entertaining events over the years, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ken Bates and Judith Chalmers, and being entertained by Rory Bremner's superb impressions, and Richard Stilgoe and his genius with a Casio keyboard – his song, The Flight of the Tiger Moth, about current president David Gower, is fantastic. Mike Gatting has also been president.

Even now the famous attend – at a 75th birthday do – held in conjunction with The Cricketer – in The Tavern pub next to Lord's in May with Angus Fraser, Lucy Pearson and George Dobell, in attendance was Robert Powell (Jesus of Nazareth himself) and Chris Tarrant – with his son, the radio star Toby.

My wife, a teacher, is grateful to the charity, as they used to take her school pupils - youngsters with special educational needs – to Chessington World of Adventures every year.

In fact, last year, nearly 30,000 youngsters attended a Taverners programme and were able to not only take part in cricket, but also develop the life skills associated with playing sport, such as teamwork, resilience and building friendships. 

This year, they want to celebrate their heritage and the impact that has made. Through fundraising this year and beyond, they can then ensure that they continue having an impact for the next 75 years.  

To find out more, visit www.lordstaverners.org