Denness Luckhurst Foundation raises £15,750 for charity

Thursday 15th January 2015

The families of two Kent Cricket legends have donated more than £15,000 raised for a charity supporting young people with disabilities in sport, the Mercy Ships and a hospice.

The Denness Luckhurst Foundation, set up by the loved ones of former Kent and England batsmen Mike Denness and Brian Luckhurst, presented a cheque for £5,250 to the Lord’s Taverners and the same amount to Mercy Ships and St Francis Hospice at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

The Foundation was set up by Lizanne, Jane and Craig Denness and Tim and Simon Luckhurst to act as a legacy of their fathers’ friendship and cricketing achievements.

The not-for-profit organisation raised the money through a golf day in September with guests including former England players Graham Gooch and John Emburey and Bromley-born TV presenter Chris Hollins, who played eight first-class matches for Oxford University.

Tim Luckhurst, the son of Brian, said it had been lovely to return to the Home of Cricket to present a cheque to Chris Cowdrey, the President of the Lord’s Taverners and son of Kent and England legend Colin Cowdrey.

Mr Luckhurst said: “It brings back so many fond memories of watching my father and Mike play cricket back in the day.”

Tim said: “The icing on the cake has been having Chris Cowdrey to help guide us and then be our master of ceremonies on the day. Three families synonymous with the great 70’s Kent team, working together again.”

Cowdrey captained the side 247 times in his 26 years with the club, while Brian Luckhurst captained Kent 28 times himself.

The Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, will donate more than £3 million this year to help give disadvantaged and disabled young people a “sporting chance” in life.

Paul Robin, chief executive of the Lord’s Taverners, added: “We are hugely grateful to the Denness Luckhurst Foundation for their donation on the back of a great event, something we look forward to being a part of again in 2015.

"The money raised through all their hard work will help us to give even more disadvantaged and disabled young people a sporting chance.”