Charity cricket match in UK strengthens community bonds and friendship

The Atrium Health Club in Reading, United Kingdom was home to a display of camaraderie and sportsmanship on August 20, as the High Commissions of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados hosted “Crickfest 2023” to raise funds for charity.

It was a hot sunny day, with hundreds in attendance. There was a roar as resident cricket commentator Jeff Hinds announced the teams’ entry in their brightly coloured gear. The anticipation had lifted the spirits of the patrons, many wearing their national colours; children enjoyed the bouncy castles and face painting.

Organizers of CricketFest 2023 with Cenio Lewis, SVG High Commissioner to the UK (3rd from right)

Last year’s inaugural event was held in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, the spiritual home of Vincentians in England. Since this was a joint event, Reading was chosen as the location for the second edition since it is considered the “Home of the Bajans” living in the United Kingdom.

The two host countries intend to make this an annual event to raise funds for charities in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and Barbados that work with persons with physical disabilities, those who are suffering from mental health challenges and persons from poor socioeconomic backgrounds.

Excitement heightened as the Bajan team captain Carleon Brome chose to bat first on a featherbed pitch, and his team quickly amassed 230 runs in the allotted overs. In reply, the Vincentian Team made a spirited effort but only amassed a score of 143. Reagan McClean, brother of former West Indies Cricket player Nixon McClean, was the captain of the Vincentian team this year. The Man of the Match for the Vincentian team was Maxford Pipe, who scored 79 runs not out, while Demario Roach was the Man of the Match for the Bajan team.

Minister Counsellor at the SVG High Commission in London Jinelle Adams, expressed, “While we raised funds for charity, the cricket game also served to engender greater community cohesion in Reading and surrounding areas while strengthening the bonds of a friendship between St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados.

“Cricket is a well-loved game in the United Kingdom and among Caribbean people at home and abroad, so it was an easy choice that my co-host, Betty Lewis, Diaspora Attaché from the Barbados High Commission, and I felt would bring our respective diaspora together in one place for friendly competition. Not only did we bring people together for a lovely day of cricket, but we helped to raise the profile of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the UK.

“The event was a tremendous success, and we were pleased to hear from attendees that they thoroughly enjoyed the day,” Adams said.

The High Commissioner (HC) for SVG in London Cenio Lewis remarked “This event is much more than a cricket match in that it serves to strengthen the relationship among our Nationals and also friends of SVG”.

A raffle of an all-inclusive trip for two to SVG and a five-night stay in the presidential suite at the Beachcombers Hotel was drawn at the match. Representative of the Beachcombers Hotel Cheryl Blackman, said, “Beachcombers are delighted to be a part of the event, especially the ones that bring people together”. She added, “The Caribbean Islands are one big family, and this match was no exception. The day went very well, and the vibes were great!”

Specially invited guests included the Deputy Mayor of Reading, Councillor Glenn Deniss, HC for SVG in London Cenio Lewis, the HC for Barbados in London, Milton Inniss, sponsors of the event, and many more who came to enjoy the friendly competitive rivalry between both countries.

With the success of this year’s charity cricket match, the organisers hope to host Next Year’s event in High Wycombe where there is a larger Vincentian diaspora.

The sponsors of Crickfest 2023 included: Virgin Atlantic (Gold sponsor), Beachcombers Hotel (Gold Sponsor), Cinco Amor Ltd (Gold Sponsor), Epidemic Desings (Dr. Freeze, Gold Sponsor), Sunset Rum UK (Silver Sponsor), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade SVG (Silver Sponsor), Tourism Office SVG, Hairoun Brewery, Waypoint Enterprises Ltd. (Chris Kelly), Young Island Resort and Mikhail Charles.