500 NOT OUT
The College's Quincentenary celebrations rolled on with a champagne reception on 19 March at the ‘Home of Cricket', Lord's. The famous ground is an iconic and beautiful international cricket venue and also home to both Middlesex County Cricket Club and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The historic Long Room provided a picturesque setting for the well-attended reception which brought together current and former members of the College for celebration of BNC's long history of excellence in sporting achievement.
Attendees at the reception were treated to a guided tour of Lord's by members of the ground's knowledgeable staff. Highlights of the tour included the spectacular views from he award-winning Investec Media Centre; a visit to the England team dressing rooms; and a seat at the table in the MCC committee room, scene of much intrigue and controversy over cricket's long history.
The tour was followed by entertaining speeches by distinguished BNC alumni Alan C Smith (1957) and David Westcott (1976). Alan has had an esteemed career in cricket. A three-time Blue while at BNC, he went on to represent England at test level in 1962 and '63. He was also a long-serving all-rounder for Warwickshire and then, upon retirement as a player, occupied roles as Chief Executive of the English Cricket Board and an ICC match referee. David was captain of Great Britain's men's hockey team in the 1984 LA Olympics which beat pre-Olympic favourites Australia to win bronze. The speakers provided lively and informative accounts of BNC's history as a leading sporting college, coupled with personal reflections on their experiences of sporting life in Oxford. Alan recalled the dominance of BNC and Oxford cricket teams during his time, with players of first-class and sometimes test standard fielded at college and university level. Such was the quality of cricket that even players of international standard sometimes struggled to gain selection to the Blues squads of the late, 50s. David remembered fondly his enjoyment of playing hockey on BNC's well-maintained sports ground, an experience unsurpassed in his subsequent playing days. Both speeches were warmly received. Lord's provided an excellent setting to appreciate the role that sport has played in developing the community and character of the College. The event also provided ample inspiration to the current students present, in particular members of the College's cricket team which is set to play the MCC.
Klem Ryan (BNC 2007)