England great Alec Stewart enthralled cricket lovers from Middlesex and Surrey on Thursday evening during a delightful fund-raising dinner for Middlesex in the Community (MITC) at Sunbury Cricket Club. It was the second time in a fortnight that royalty – Stewart is rightly considered English cricket royalty – had visited the West London cricket ground. Two weeks earlier the future King, Prince William, dropped in at the venue to show his support for Surplus to Supper, a charity that redistributes food to bridge the gap between food waste and food poverty.
On the evening last week Stewart engrossed an audience of more than 75 people, speaking openly and honestly of his outstanding playing career with England and Surrey, and of the equal success he has had as Director of Cricket at Surrey County Cricket Club. Angus Fraser, the former Middlesex and England cricketer, hosted the evening, which raised valuable funds and awareness for two fantastic charities – Middlesex in the Community and Surplus to Supper.
Prior to Fraser interviewing the evening's star attraction attendees were tested on their knowledge of Stewart's career in a game of Higher and Lower. The winner walked away with a nice item of signed Middlesex kit. Conversation with Stewart flowed as he spoke of his route into cricket, his pride in representing England, his relationship with his father Mickey, who was the manager of both Surrey and England when Alec was first selected, and how his mother reacted when Mickey dropped him from the England team for the first time.
Surplus to Supper provided everyone with a fantastic curry, which was much enjoyed by all in attendance. In the post meal questions Stewart was asked about Bazball – the style of cricket played by the current England Test team – the future of the game, his most feared opponents and how he was for once quietened on the field by Indian cricket legend Saurav Ganguly.
The evening raised valuable funds for Middlesex in the Community, which is the new charitable arm of Middlesex Cricket. Money raised from the evening will be used by MITC to deliver cricket projects, in the community, programmes that show the positive impact cricket can have on peoples lives. Surplus to Suppers contribution to the community is of equal, if not greater importance, and this evening will allow them to deliver a further 75-80 fantastic meals to those in the local community that cannot afford to feed themselves.
Speaking on the evening Fraser, the Managing Director of MITC, said:
"To spend such a personal evening with Alec is a treat not many people get. The insight he provided showed why has achieved what he has. Even though he is from Surrey I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with him. On behalf of everyone at MITC I would like to thank Alec for giving his time, Claire Hopkins at Surplus to Supper for the wonderful meal, Sunbury Cricket Club for hosting the event, and Lisa Whybrow and the team for organising such a successful evening. We look forward to hosting a similar event in the near future."
If anybody would like to donate to or learn more about Middlesex in the Community, please contact Lisa Whybrow at [email protected]
