Etched in my memory from a time in the dim distant past is a day at Rugby School playing in what was then the ESCA Schools Festival.  As you can imagine the setting was near perfect and I was watched by my parents as I made what could have been a pretty decent 80 or so.  Let’s not quibble about the figures – if it was less it should have been more and if it was more, well, great!

It was a proud day for me and especially for my dad too.  He was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and this was one of the last chances he had to watch me play.  He was never around for my professional career so never got to see me play for England.  That pleasure was my mother’s alone.  There was one very sweet shot that went for six over deep midwicket, in the direction of our car, and added to the polite applause was the sound of the car horn tooting in celebration.

It was the only time before I joined Leicestershire that I played in a representative match so it was good early experience of what needs to happen as a player moves up the scale and meets and plays against new opposition.

The value of representative cricket at all levels I hope is now well established.  It is a vital part of the continued development of ever player to keep testing himself against better players all the way up, as well as being a reward itself for consistent quality.

For 21 years now that same festival has carried the Bunbury name with David English “Biffo”, the man always there driving it onwards and upwards.  The list of players who have been a part of it and who have gone on to represent England grow every year and that alone is a great tribute to the value of the Bunbury Festival.

Long may it prosper under David’s guidance and with his immense enthusiasm behind it why wouldn’t it?

Happy 21st and all best wishes.