An all-star celebrity line-up will take to the field for a cricket match to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in Richmond this month.
Chris Tarrant and Max Rushden will captain the teams including actor Colin Salmon, novelist Mark Frost and Eastenders’ John Altman at Teddington Cricket Club on February 28.
The event, hosted in Bushy Park for the first time, will raise money for the David Adams Leukaemia Appeal Fund.
Mr Rushden said: “It is a very personal cause for Mandie Adams McGuire [David Adams Leukaemia Appeal Fund chair]. She has done an amazing job for awareness.
“The day is beautiful and no one takes it seriously, it’s a relaxed atmosphere.
“The hospitality will be great, the food will be good and it will be better than the cricket.”
The Fantasy Football Club host gave an insight into the cricketing talent that will be on display.
He added: “He won’t want me saying this but Chris Tarrant is the most defensive player and most boring player, a bit like Geoffrey Boycott.
“I am not a good cricketer. I only had a successful university career, where I got two centuries to my name.
“Paul Merson, probably going to be our wicket keeper, is good but he is good at any sport and Andy Jacobs talks a good game.
“Chris is coming on the talkSPORT show and we will have an independent adjudicator to do the toss.”
The match starts a 1pm and entrance is free, there will be a raffle, bottle hoopla and a bar.
Cricket in February, whatever next! @DavidAdamsFund we will be there #love cricket pic.twitter.com/oTFaD15wdC
— Jam Packed Preserves Limited (@JamPackedHQ) January 12, 2016
Ms Adams McGuire’s late father, Bertie Joel, who was one of the great characters of London cricket, started this event and the match has taken place for around 50 years, come rain or shine.
Ms Adams McGuire said: “This event is very vital as Royal Marsden are about to launch a massive appeal.
“The response to the event has been very popular. There will be plenty of stalls and plenty of activities to take part in and the local Indian restaurant Moidul’s will be providing food.
“I am hoping to see lots of people coming to support and buy our raffle tickets and generally have a good time and to raise money.”
All proceeds from the raffle and the day will go The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Image courtesy of Mandie Adams McGuire, with thanks
