Six days of cricket confirmed for Tunbridge Wells Festival 2015
Friday 12th December 2014
Tunbridge Wells have been confirmed as the venue of three Kent Cricket fixtures for 2015 with the Nevill Ground hosting Natwest T20 Blast and Royal London One-Day Cup cricket in July.
Funding has been secured to install a temporary stand, making the operation of the shorter forms of the game viable.
The stand has been underwritten by local businessman Freddie Cook, long-standing West Kent co-chairman of the Lord’s Taverners, a leading youth cricket and disability sports charity.
Mr Cook said: “I was saddened when the festival was retrenched last year and was determined to ensure that the Festival was maintained and in fact restored to its former glory.
“For the good of cricket throughout West Kent, boys and girls participation, the work of cricket charities like the Taverners and the vibrancy of Tunbridge Wells, it is important we have a full cricket festival.”
Tunbridge Wells Festival will now open with a NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Glamorgan at 5.30pm on Friday 17 July and close with a 50-over Royal London One-Day Cup game against Essex, in their guise as the Essex Eagles, 10.30am, Sunday 26 July.
The games will bookmark the Festival week either side of the already confirmed LV= County Championship four day match against Essex (Sunday 19 July – Wednesday 22 July), starting at 11am on each day.
Kent Cricket CEO Jamie Clifford said: “We are very pleased to be bringing back a full cricketing programme for the 103rd Tunbridge Wells Cricket Festival, and are indebted to a very generous local supporter for making this possible.
“My hope is that we can now use this continuity regarding 2015 as a springboard to secure the ground for many years to come.”
Tickets for the individual matches will go on sale in March 2015 but cricket followers are able to purchase a ticketing package now to cover entry to any of the six days of the festival and Kent’s fixture against Australia in Canterbury.
The Kent Cricket Six Pack allows entry to any six days of cricket desired, at a discount rate (£95 Early Bird until 31 December 2014, then £105), plus the opportunity to purchase six tickets per day at the Australian match in advance.