Spring Bank Holiday Sunday in Menston: it’s the community’s Family Fun Day at the cricket club!

Well, it has been for the last 5 years. We held our first one in 2015 – coincidentally on 24th May (don’t be fooled by the attached poster!) – and each year we have aimed to make it bigger and better, though 2019 was hit by the weather.

As for the entertainment, do you remember the cool car shows? The terrific terrier racing? The brilliant bouncy castles? The when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get-going tug-of-war? And, of course, the food, drink and music?

We must thank the efforts of main organiser, and Life Member of the cricket club, Gordon Metcalfe for his tireless work in each of those years, ably supported by many fantastic volunteers from the cricket club and community.

In years gone by, from the 1920s to the 1960s, the Menston ‘Feast’ was held at a field which is now occupied by the Brooklands housing estate. According to Jack Kell’s book ‘Menston Remembered’, a fairground traditionally stretched from the train station to The Fox. Up to the footpath fence resplendent caravans and magnificent steam engines were lined up. There were roundabouts, swings, brandy snap and hoop-la stalls, as well as numerous side-shows. Often there was a friendly cricket match on at the same time, with ambitious batsmen trying to hit the ball on to the ‘big top’. Similar to our modern day Fun Day, the ‘Feast’ was a social occasion not to be missed!

This year, of course, we can’t hold our Fun Day, though there is a virtual car show “Motor nuts on the pitch” at 11am on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May, which is being organised by the cool folk at Chevin Motorclub – watch out for the show here: https://www.facebook.com/chevinmotorclub/

We wish everyone in the community all the best during these strange and challenging times – and when life returns to a time when large gatherings are back, we aim to make our next major event – whether that be a Fun Day or a Bonfire Night – one to remember.

With that in mind, the cricket club is seeking ways to raise funds in the absence of our usual income streams, and for some of the funds raised to be put aside to help meet the costs of future community events.

Our current crowdfunding campaign can be found here: https://www.spacehive.com/menston-cricket

Please make a pledge if you can. Funds raised will be earmarked as follows:

- First £200 raised: to get the cricket club ready for any cricket that might happen this year.
- Next £400 raised: to pay for volunteers to go on coaching courses, and to buy new equipment for our junior and women’s teams.
- Above £600 raised: to meet the costs of future community events.

A big thank you to all backers so far – it really helps the cricket club’s volunteers do what they need to do for the benefit of club members and the wider community.