Congratulations on completing 21 years of Bunbury English Schools Festivals.  This has been a magnificent innings on your part, during which you have displayed the elegance of David Gower, the doggedness of Geoffrey Boycott and inspiration and passion of Ian Botham, the result is The Bunburys, a magnificent platform of the Gowers, Boycotts and Bothams of the future.

As the statistics reveal, an enormous amount of English cricket talent has been exposed to the Bunbury effect.  Nearly 170 Bunbury boys have played first class cricket and 40 have played for England.  Nine of the 2005 England Ashes winning side cut their teeth at the Bunbury Festival.  Here’s one more stat: £10 million has been raised for charity, a figure worthy of a standing ovation at every Test ground in the Country.

The Daily Telegraph has been very proud to be associated with The Bunburys for the past 10 years.  We in the sports department feel passionately about the nurturing of young talent and need for every young person to experience the joy of sport.  The wonder of The Bunburys us truly something to behold and, after 21 years, part of the fabric of English cricket.

So, after a remarkable 21 years, David, you are still at the Bunbury crease, playing every shot in the book and entertaining all in the pavilion with wondrous tales.  Only you could have brought together the amazing band of Bunbury brothers – the biggest names in film, music, entertainment, business and sport.  Here’s to the next 21 years.