The Lord’s Taverners is the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity whose objective is to give disadvantaged and disabled young people a sporting chance.
Every year, the Lord’s Taverners donate over £3 million to help young people of all abilities and backgrounds participate in sporting activities. In 2013 alone the Lord’s Taverners gave 7 million sporting chances across all of its charitable programmes.
The Lady Taverners
The Lady Tavernersowe their formation to Baroness Thatcher and are now 30 years young.. Normally each Prime Minister had been made a member of the Lord’s Taverners. But the first Lady Prime Minister set the previously all-male club a problem. Being ever inventive they decided to form the Honorary Lady Taverners and in early 1980 the late David Evans MP invited Baroness Thatcher to become Honorary Lady Taverner No. 1 – luckily she agreed. Twenty three other ladies were initially invited by the then Lord’s Taverners president, Eric Morecambe, to join – ladies who had helped at cricket matches and those who had organised the very successful tombola at the President’s Ball, including Ann Barrington Judith Chalmers, Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Marjorie Gover, Joan Morecambe, Anne Subba Row and Betty Surridge. Soon afterwards more were invited, bringing the total to 61.
In 1986 a committee was formed with Anne as chairman. A few events followed, including a champagne trip, spring and autumn lunches and a garden party at Lady Secombe’s. At the only Honorary Lady Taverners annual general meeting, it was suggested that membership be opened to paying ladies. This was adopted.
The first Lady Taverners were elected on 12 October 1987, with Diana Thomas becoming chairman at the Christmas lunch. Diana led the fundraising path; £51,000 in 1988 to almost double that in her second term of office. Joan Morecambe became founder president and still works amazingly hard on our behalf.
There is no doubt that without the original Honorary Lady Taverners – and Baroness Thatcher – the Lady Taverners as such would not have come into being and been the success they are today.
Now over 1,000 strong, the Lady Taverners continues to draw members from the sporting, show business and corporate worlds. Over the past 30 years funds have been raised in our 25 regions around the country, to help enhance the lives of young people with special needs and from disadvantaged backgrounds. The aim is to give as many young people as possible a ‘sporting chance’ in life.
The Lady Taverners understand the massive potential sport has to encourage boys and girls of all abilities to get out, keep fit and be part of a team. By donating sports equipment, specially made wheelchairs, sensory equipment and putting on fun days, sport and recreation can be made accessible to everyone.
In 30 years over £14 million has been raised and if you would like to join the Lady Taverners along with Sara and other clients and help to give young people everywhere a sporting chance in life, or would like more information regarding the Lady Taverners, please click here. Sara will be delighted to nominate you. Our most recent event was a concert hosted by our current president Lesley Garrett at Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Concert hosted by Lesley Garrett at Theatre Royal Haymarket
International Cricket Tours
International Cricket Tours became an Official Supporter of the Lord’s Taverners in 2015 the year Ian Botham was honoured ICT was the travel sponsor for the main event at The Hilton Park Lane in July.
We’re delighted to announce that International Cricket Tours signed an agreement with The Lord’s Taverners that year to become an Official Supporter of the leading sporting charity.
Our agreement saw us supporting the Lord’s Taverners on a range of initiatives to raise funds and support the charity in its mission of enhancing the lives of young people through sport and recreation.
Sara Malin, director of International Cricket Tours, said, “As a long term supporter of cricket, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to support the Lord’s Taverners. Through this agreement, we raised a significant amount of money to enable the charity to use the wonderful game of cricket to make a positive impact on even more young people’s lives and to build long term relationships with the Lord’s Taverners and it’s members everywhere.”
Paul Robin, chief executive of the Lord’s Taverners, said, “I am delighted to announce this agreement between the Lord’s Taverners and International Cricket Tours. Sara and the team bring a very high level of expertise, experience and passion to the world of cricket travel, and it’s fantastic to have them on board as an official supporter of our charity. We look forward to working with them.”
