ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

From L Chris Cowdrey Sir Vivian Richards Cherrie Osborne Rob Wilson and Graeme Swan 590

Cricketing Greats from the United Kingdom will touch down in Antigua and Barbuda next month, when Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, travels to the destination for their 65th Anniversary Tour from 12 -16 October 2015.

Mike Gatting OBE and Andy Caddick, ex England cricketer and former leading English wicket-taker, will be joined by other past cricketing stars including Luke Wright and Ryan Ten Doeschate, and  celebrities  Harry Judd of  McBusted, and Television Personalities Jonnie Irwin,  Nick Hancock and Mark Chapman.

The all-star group of over twenty, hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and West Indies cricket legend and National Hero, Sir Vivian Richards, OBE, will be in Antigua for five days of pro-celebrity cricket.

Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority commented that, “Sports Tourism, particularly with the promoting of the destination within the United Kingdom, continues to be a major part of our marketing strategy.  Antigua and Barbuda having produced some of the greatest cricketers of all time, and having hosted some of the most exciting and historical cricket test matches, has always succeeded in attracting large numbers of cricketing fans and international press to our shores.”

“This event, offers us tremendous international exposure and we are extremely delighted that Lord’s Taverners and their supporters have selected Antigua and Barbuda for their tour.  This will include twenty/20 night cricket at The Sir Vivian Richard’s Stadium as well as on our gorgeous beaches.”
Lords Taverners was founded at Lord’s Cricket ground in 1950 by a group of actors and Patron and Twelfth Man HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and is a thriving members club of 5,000 high net worth individuals.

The Lord’s Taverner’s have had close links to Antigua and Barbuda having raised £30,000 towards the restoration of the island’s St John’s Anglican Cathedral, just last year, when they honoured Sir Vivian Richards at a Tribute to Sir Vivian Richards dinner in London.  This gala event was attended by Minister of Tourism The Hon. Asot Michael, Minister of Sport The Hon. E.P Chet Green and former West Indies Cricketer Sir Andy Roberts, who all used their collective efforts to promote the destination.

Paul Robin, Chief Executive, Lord’s Taverners commented: “this special tour to Sir Viv’s homeland is the perfect way to commemorate our 65th anniversary and see how the Lord’s Taverners has helped support the local community. Funds raised by this tour will help provide more young people with a sporting chance.” The visit will see the group contributing to youth sporting and disability charities in the destination.

Sir Vivian Richards, UK celebrities, cricketers, dignitaries and supporters will sit down to a black tie fundraising dinner and auction, on October 13, at the Sugar Ridge Hotel. Tickets to the fund raising dinner, are available by contacting the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s office located in the ACB Financial center on telephone 562 - 7600, Sugar Ridge, or the Antigua Sailing Week Office, upstairs the Antigua Yacht Club Marina in English Harbour.

All proceeds raised from the fund raising dinner will be going exclusively to local charities.