Cricket club's 'curveball' wins tea deal donation

A "curveball idea" by a cricket club has led to a donation from a baronet in exchange for two cups of tea per year.

Sedgwick Cricket Club has been fundraising to buy an acre of land to establish a full cricket oval on its current ground off Back Lane in Sedgwick, south of Kendal.

Captain Adam Kershaw said they were inspired to write to Sir Humphry Wakefield as they already had on display an old letter from him talking about a "great game" played in Sedgwick by legendary cricketer WG Grace.

To the club's surprise, Sir Wakefield wrote them "a lovely cheque for £2,000, in exchange for two cups of tea per season".

Kershaw said: "We've got a letter up in the club house from Sir Humphry Wakefield, dated from about 25 years ago, which talked about one of the great games that happened in Sedgwick where WG Grace was playing."

Over the past few centuries, the baronet's family partly-owned Sedgwick House, which was split up into apartments, Kershaw said.

"The family has been in and around Kendal for years and years," he added.

"Our former team captain had a curveball idea and suggested we should get in touch with Sir Humphry and see if he was willing to donate anything," Kershaw said.

To their surprise, Sir Humphry "took the time to write a lovely letter back and explained he would love to help out if he could", Kersahw said.

"He then sent us a cheque and all he asked for in exchange was two cups of tea every season.

"It was much appreciated," Kershaw added.

The club said it was hoping to see Sir Humphry this weekend and hoped he could "cash in" on a cuppa.

Kershaw said the club would "continue to keep chipping away" at their fundraising target to buy the land, adding they "were not far away now".

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