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Sir Viv’s bat donated to Somerset Cricket Museum
The Somerset Cricket Museum was recently presented with a cricket bat that was used by Sir Viv Richards in 1979.
The bat was presented to Museum Trustee, Mike Unwin ahead of Friday’s Vitality Blast match against Gloucestershire by Denise Marsh on behalf of her father Roy Williams, who both reside in Minehead.
Roy, now a sprightly 94, was previously a bank manager in Taunton where he had connections with Taunton CC. His son, Neil, also played for Taunton CC as well as appearing for Somerset Second XI. Neil is now MD of Harris Fowler who are a Commercial Partner of SCCC.
Regarding the bat, Roy said: “If my memory serves me correctly, this sponsorship was the first one that Viv received in his cricketing career with Somerset. In fact it may be the only sponsorship he received as, of course, sponsorships were more rare in the 70s.
“In 1979, Urch Harris (Stamp dealers) sponsored Viv for £1 for every run he scored that season. At the end of the summer his runs totaled 1500 or thereabouts.
“The bat was presented to Viv at the Ground and he subsequently paid the bat as a cheque into his account. Obviously a bat cannot go through the banking system so we had to duplicate the cheque and I was left with the original item which I have cared for ever since, although time has taken its toll on the handle of the bat.”
Roy added: “I found Viv to be a very humble man off the field and we had a good banker/customer relationship. I had the pleasure of meeting him again about 12 years ago when he visited Minehead where I am living in retirement.”
Mike Unwin said: “This is a marvellous addition to our collection and we are most appreciative of this donation. It will take pride of place in the Museum, either in the bat collection or alongside the tribute to Viv.”
