As any good cricket fan knows, reaching a half century takes hard work, endurance and should be celebrated.
Well, all those things were true of the British Police Cricket Club (BPCC) as it celebrated its 50th Anniversary, with a Gala Dinner at Derbyshire County Cricket on Thursday 29th June 2023.
The weather was gorgeous as both the British Police Cricket Club’s current men’s and women’s tours came to an end, the first time the men’s and women’s tours have taken place together sharing venues around Derbyshire, and current and former players arrived at Derbyshire CCC for the dinner.
They were joined in the excellently presented marquee by the BPCC committee members, TeamPolice guests, guest speakers and of course our very generous sponsors:-
Fujitsu
VirginMediaO2 Business
Infrastar
without whom, the cricket section would be in the healthy state it finds itself.
In true BPCC tour week style, there was a last-minute drop out requiring frantic phone calls to fill the spare place. Only this time it wasn’t the player cry-off but Paul Farbrace, one of the guest speakers. His replacement was found the night before, Graeme ‘Foxy’ Fowler, the ex-England and Lancashire left hand open batsman who together with John Morris, ex-England and Derbyshire batsman, entertained the room superbly well with cricketing stories and comic genius.

The BPCC chair, Lee Freeman (Chief Constable Humberside) compared the evening with his effortless charm and wit, speaking passionately about the benefits police sport affords officers and staff during the challenging times UK Policing finds itself in.
Returning to the resplendent marquee, decorated with photographs of BPCC Squads from 1973 to today, aligned itself to most people’s highlight of the evening, no not the free bar, but being in the company of BPCC players from 1973 through to present day players, including Harry Hanover, David Beaumont, Stuart Lott, Roger Cruttenden, Geoff Parkes, David Brown, Peter Davey,

Whilst the photographs evidenced how cricket fashions and haircuts have changed over the 50 years (what ever was wrong with wearing whites?) two things remain as strong now as ever regardless of age, their love of the game and their pride in the office they serve.

Maybe a third, a sense of comradery found in dressing rooms and parade rooms alike.

Well batted BPCC, great knock. Now head down, take your guard, check the field and go again as the job’s only half done.