Kent Cricket and Shepherd Neame mark VE Day’s 75th Anniversary
Friday 8th May 2020
609 Squadron play cricket in front of a Supermarine Spitfire at RAF Biggin Hill, June 1941.
Friday 8th May marks the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, in the Second World War. One of the icons of the conflict, the Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane, is an image also closely associated with the county of Kent, no least as part of both Kent Cricket and the Club’s Principal Partner, Shepherd Neame.
12 airfields across the county, from Biggin Hill in the west to Hawkinge in the east, were requisitioned or indeed built from scratch by the Royal Air Force (RAF) ahead of a period of air conflict in mid-1940 that became known as ‘The Battle of Britain’.
The Supermarine Spitfire, hailed for its manoeuvrability, agility and top speed, captured the hearts and minds of not only the pilots that flew them, but of the people of Kent that were protected by Spitfires and other RAF fighter planes during the period.
In 1990, Britain’s Oldest Brewer, Faversham-based Shepherd Neame, named what was firstly a one-off brew to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, ‘Spitfire’.
Since going into full production, Spitfire has enjoyed phenomenal success, earning a Royal Warrant and protected status as a Kentish Ale. While the great taste has remained constant throughout its history, the Spitfire family has grown to include golden ale and lager, each imbued with the distinctive Spitfire spirit.
On 13th April 1999, five days before the start of the cricket season, Kent Cricket CEO at the time Paul Millman revealed a the new name for Kent Cricket in white-ball competition: Kent Spitfires.
“We were overwhelmed by the interest in the new name,” he said. “It’s not been an easy decision, trying to reconcile the traditions of cricket in Kent with the trends in modern cricket, all of which are aimed at broadening the appeal of the game to new audiences.”
In 2013, Kent Cricket and Shepherd Neame teamed up once again to give the St. Lawrence Ground in Canterbury a new name that it still carries today: The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence. At the time, Shepherd Neame CEO Jonathan Neame said: “We see a very strong fit with the Kent Spitfires and see this as an integral part in our brand communication platform.
Today, Shepherd Neame’s ‘Spitfire’ has a dynamic new look reflecting the nature of the iconic plane that inspired its creation and befitting its status as a brand of substance and character.
To help mark the 75th Anniversary, Shepherd Neame are hosting a virtual ‘Sheps Spitfire VE Day Party’. Jonathan Neame will be raising a Spitfire toast at 3pm to give respects to those who gave so much, then join in for a singalong with Shepherd Neame’s very own Spitfire Sweetheart, Stacey Young.
*Title photo courtesy of the 609 Squadron Association
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