Visit to Lord’s Cricket Ground
On Thursday, 30th November 2023, the first social event of the new Master’s year saw 27 Company members and guests join the Master and Mistress, David and Kathy Adams, on a visit to the Marylebone Cricket Club (“MCC”), the Home of Cricket.

Lord’s Cricket Ground in St John’s Wood is named after Thomas Lord, who secured the site for Club in 1814, and is the third site that has been used by the Club since its founding in 1787. The Master is a Club member and two other MCC members were also part of the group.
On a very cold morning, our day began with a light breakfast in the Lord’s Tavern, adjacent to the famous Grace Gates, which were named in honour of W.G. Grace, and from where we were collected by our Guide. The original Tavern had served as the only entry route into the ground requiring spectators to pass through the hostelry and wine shop run by Thomas Lord, who was a wine merchant.
The tour began in the Long Room of the Lord’s Pavilion, which a former Australian Captain described as the Cathedral of cricket, and which is instantly recognisable to most cricket fans around the World. With a magnificent view of the pitch for a backdrop, our Guide regaled us with a short history of the Club, touching upon the architecture of this Grade II listed building, and highlighting the artwork lining the walls featuring famous cricketers. He described the cauldron of noise that will greet players as they make their way through the Long Room, packed with members, on their way out to the field of play down the Pavilion concourse steps.
We proceeded upstairs to the Home and Away dressing rooms to see the Honours Boards, that record the achievements of players in a Lord’s Test who have either scored over 100 runs in an innings, or taken 5 or more wickets in an innings, or more than 9 wickets in a match. Featuring legendary names, there are also some of the greatest players in the history of the game that never managed this feat such as Tendulkar, Shane Warne, and Brian Lara.
We were granted rare access to the Players’ Dining Room, where the opposing teams sit either side of the Umpires as they are offered a choice of 6 main courses either side of breakfast and afternoon tea, and provides a stark contrast to the plush Committee Dining Room next door.
A walk to the opposite end of the Ground afforded us the opportunity to go into the Media Centre to see the Sky and Test Match Special studios, as well as the banks of desks used by over 140 journalists on Test Matches, with their commanding views of the pitch.
Walking back past the Father Time Wall, where major moments in the history of the ground are chronicled, we ended the tour in the Museum to hear the story of how the Ashes came about, and to see the famous Ashes Urn, the contents of which remain a mystery.

We returned to the Lord’s Tavern to hear brief remarks from the Master, recalling his first visit to Lord’s 55 years ago, and becoming a member 30 years ago, before enjoying a lovely leisurely lunch.
A marvellous and memorable day, full of fellowship and informal conversation.
Steward John Wilson