ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

YIDA International Investment Group have put up a US$50,000 golf holiday package to Japan, for the auction.

The Black-Tie Charity Dinner, hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Sir Vivian Richards, and the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, the Lord’s Taverners, takes place at the Sugar Club at Sugar Ridge on October 13 at 7:00 pm sharp.

The Lord’s Taverners whose membership is drawn from the sporting and entertainment world will be in Antigua to celebrate their 65th anniversary. In 2014, they teamed up with Sir Vivian Richards, who is also a member of the organisation, to raise £30,000 towards the restoration of the island’s St John’s Anglican Cathedral.

This year’s dinner, will raise funds for children’s charity, Friends of the Care Project, an independent non-profit organisation whose sole aim is to improve the facilities at The Care Project, a home for severely disabled and abandoned children.

The St. John’s Anglican Cathedral will also benefit from the fund-raising dinner, with proceeds raised from the event, going towards the restoration of the historic church.  

A host of UK celebrities, former England cricketers and their supporters will fly into Antigua for the event.  

Those attending include:  Former England Cricketer and Chairman of the Lord's Taverners Mike Gatting OBE, cricketing pros: Andy Caddick, Luke Wright, Martyn Ball, Gus McKay, Chris Nash, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Jade Dernbach, Paul Pritchard and a host of British celebrities and TV personalities such as Charles Dale Coronation Street actor, musician Harry Judd, BBC Television host Mark Chapman, Television Personality Jonnie Irwin and comedian Nick Hancock.

L - R Sir Viv Richards OBE & Chris Cowdrey Former English Cricketer at the launch of the Lord's Taverners 65th Anniversary Tour to Antigua and Barbuda in July. Photo by: Steve Fisher Photography

Sir Andy Roberts, members of the West Indies Cricket Board and the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association, have also confirmed their attendance.

The star-studded charity fundraising dinner and auction will have a cocktail reception from 7 pm followed by an evening of fine-dining, entertainment to include the Spirited band, and a live and silent auction.  

The grand package prize from YIDA will be auctioned by Caribbean media personality Julian Rogers MBE, and English television presenter and actor, Nick Hancock.  

Other experiences and prizes included in the auction are, a round of golf with the Master Blaster, Sir Vivian Richards at the Cedar Valley golf course, dinner for two with former West Indies fast-bowler Andy Roberts, British Airways Club World tickets for two, and a three night stay at the Cap Maison luxury resort in St. Lucia.

While in Antigua, the Lord’s Taverners will also be making a donation of sporting equipment to the Ministry of Sports, for distribution to local teams on Antigua and Barbuda.  A twenty/20 night cricket match is also set to take place between the Lord’s Taverners XI and the Sir Viv Richards All Stars, on October 14 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Sir Vivian Richards, said: “The devotion of Antigua and Barbuda’s cricket fans is unrivalled, it’s an island where cricketing history has been made and therefore the perfect destination for the Lord’s Taverner’s 65th Anniversary Tour.  I believe very strongly that all young people should have access to sport so the Lord’s Taverners is a charity very close to my heart.”

To book a table or tickets for the charity dinner and auction, contact:  The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority on 562-7600, Sugar Ridge on 562 -7700 or visit the Antigua Sailing Week Office in English Harbour.  Tickets are US$150.