ORGANISERS of the annual Victorian cricket fundraising day in June have handed over the money raised to charity.

It was with “great pleasure” that members of the Alton Victorian cricket organising committee presented a cheque for £8,300 to Daisy Mitchell from the St Michael’s Hospice fundraising team in Basingstoke.

Receiving the cheque at the hospice shop, Daisy said: “St Michael’s Hospice was delighted to have been selected as the charity of the year for the 2016 Alton Victorian cricket tournament.

“It was a fantastic community event to be a part of and it was great to see so many local people out supporting the hospice.

“We’re so thankful to everyone involved with the tournament for all their support,.

“The incredible amount raised will help fund the services for patients and their families all over North Hampshire.”

Alton Victorian cricket’s organising committee thanked Warren Powell-Richards estate agency for their continued financial support as gold sponsors, their silver sponsors Alton Sports Centre, Specsavers and Hog’s Back Brewery, and many other local businesses and individuals for their raffle prize donations.

Recently, Alton Victorian cricket lost a “much valued” member of their committee, Barry Perkins, who died earlier this year.

His “sense of humour and commitment” will be remembered every year through the new Barry Perkins Alton Victorian Cricket Personality of the Year trophy.

The cup is to be awarded to the person or team who “most enriches the day with their personality and sportsmanship”.

The first winners were the entire Alton Masonic Lodge team, playing for the first time this year with “great enjoyment and vigour”.

Derek Gardner, chairman of Alton Victorian cricket’s organising committee, said: “I would like to thank all the teams for their enthusiastic participation, the stallholders for their support and the people of Alton and surrounding areas for supporting this wonderful day and enabling us to raise such a significant sum of money for St Michael’s Hospice.

“Last, but not least, my thanks go to all the members of the organising committee who work so hard throughout the year to make Alton’s annual Victorian cricket match such a fantastic and popular event.”

The event was held at The Butts green in June.