Test Match Special’s Jonathan Agnew comes to Rochdale Rotary Club Cricket Dinner

Test Match Special’s Jonathan Agnew at the Rochdale Rotary Club Cricket Dinner

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Rochdale Rotary Club recently held its annual, cricket themed, dinner at the Masonic Buildings and raised over £5,000.

Proceeds from the evening will help in the coaching of young amateur cricketers in the Rochdale area.

Prostate Cancer research will also be supported as it is one of the Rotary Club's charities for 2016/17.

President John Holder is a former test match umpire and is regularly with Jonathan Agnew on Radio's Test Match Special programme commenting on listener’s questions relating to the laws of cricket.

It is the first time 'Aggers', as he is known, has been to Rochdale and he gave an amusing after dinner speech.

Questions from the audience included whether test match cricket will survive when one day cricket is much better attended. Agnew thinks it will but more innovation such has having day/night matches will be needed.

MC for the evening was local comedian Dudley Doolittle, a keen cricket follower and the event was sponsored by the BMI Highfield Hospital.

The Rotary Club gave Agnew a cake made by a friend of the club, Heather Williams (cakes are a regular snack item in the Test Match Special commentary box) and this was much discussed and eaten at the Old Trafford England versus Pakistan Test the day after.

The cake commemorates the famous Ian Botham incident when he nearly 'got his leg over' the stumps 25 years ago when England played West Indies.

John Holder also umpired in that match.

President John Holder thanked 'Aggers' for attending and said: "This has been one of the best evenings of entertainment we have had since our cricket dinners started in 2011."