Welcome from the Stratford upon Avon, Carnival Local Director.

WELCOME FROM CARNIVAL PATRON – DENNIS AMISS, MBE

I am honoured to be chosen as the Patron of the World Vintage Cricket Carnival which takes place in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2008.  The ground at Swans Nest Lane is a unique and very beautiful setting in the heart of Warwickshire country side and has recently been the venue for Warwickshire first class cricket matches.

Vintage cricket encapsulates all that is good about this great game of ours and long may it continue to grow and prosper.  Having only recently retired as Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club I am still very closely involved with cricket at both domestic and international level and am well placed to view the game as a whole.  So the development of Vintage cricket is just another example of how the future of cricket globally is in safe and secure hands.  I would commend the Vintage Cricket Carnival wholeheartedly to cricketers everywhere. 

Dennis L. Amiss, MBE

D L Amiss Career Record

Dennis played for Warwickshire from 1960 to 1987 and for England from 1966 to 1977.
He averaged 46.30 in test and of his 11 test centuries, 8 of them were in excess of 150. The highest being 262* against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.

Overall in first class matches he scored 43423 runs @ 42.86 including 102 centuries.

Two of my most poignant cricket memories are from 1976 and both feature Dennis.
I was at Lords and witnessed Dennis get 9 and 11 for the MCC. He was hit by Michael Holding (I think). It was a very sombre moment and we wondered if we had seen the last of him at international level.
A couple of months later I was emotional as everyone else at The Oval when Dennis got 203 against the same team. This in a series where England had a different opening pair in every test!
            - Roger Carroll

A Message from Michael Perkins Local Cricket Director of the 2008 Stratford-upon-Avon Carnival

I have lived in South Warwickshire and have been a member of the Stratford-upon-Avon Club since the estimable Bitter which was brewed in the Town was 1/6d a pint.  That is more than forty years for those who don’t remember ‘old’ money or Flowers IPA.

Things have changed somewhat since then but you can still obtain decent ale at reasonable prices and sit and drink it in some of the most fascinating and friendly pubs in England.

If you are reading this before August 2008, do make plans now to join the Stratford upon Avon Cricket Carnival which we have agreed could be rightly called "The Cotswolds Cricket Classic". The Carnival could be a highlight of a full tour that will take you and your team to some other attractive part of the British Isles.

I and my Committee have already started work and all but have finalised our list of attractive, well-equipped rural cricket grounds in the Cotswolds and South Warwickshire. Many of them are surrounded by the gently rolling farmland for which the area is justly admired.

When the day’s cricket is over there will be entertainment during the evenings at the clubs, the facilities of the famous Stratford-upon-Avon Club will be at your disposal and the Theatres, Shakespearian properties, River, Pubs and Restaurants of the Town all will be within walking-distance of your Hotel.

Whether you are on your own or in a small group or part of a club team, we look forward to welcoming you to a week of unforgettable cricket, friendship and fun.

Michael Perkins 
 (michael.perkins3@tesco.net)