Thousands head to the wicket at North Marine Road
People from throughout the country will be heading to Scarborough for the start of the 131st annual cricket festival.
Many of the spectators who have been attending the North Marine Road event for decades, one of the county’s favoured fixtures.
Yorkshire will take on Essex from Sunday to Wednesday at the big event, which began as a series of matches between invited teams or teams comprised of selected players - a tradition carried on more latterly with Michael Parkinson’s XI and Sir Tim Rice’s XI.
Yorkshire’s county cricket matches have been played at Scarborough every season since 1891, and 22,946 people watched Yorkshire play Derbyshire in 1947.
Players who have taken to the crease include WG Grace, Don Bradman, Geoffrey Boycott, Brian Close, Ray Illingworth, Jack Hobbs, Richie Benaud, Colin Cowdrey, Brian Trueman, plus a host of others, and past presidents include Sir Len Hutton. Dickie Bird has been a regular visitor for many years. Ted Lester, the Yorkshire CCC player who was born near the ground, retrieved the ball when Don Bradman scored 132 in 90 minutes in 1934.
Among the many visiting fans from afar will be Ken Merchant, of Essex, who has been attending for more than 30 years, and is honorary secretary of The Cricket Society Trust.
The festival dinner takes place at the marquee on Monday August 7 from 7.30pm. Call (01723) 365625 for tickets at £40.
Plus see sport page 85.