LYNCHMERE Cricket Club has celebrated its double centenary.

It marked the occasion with a celebration dinner at the Maud Hardman Hoyle Hall, as past and present members heard that cricket was first played in the Lynchmere area in the late 1700s and the club was formed in 1819.

Ever since, the club has welcomed local and touring cricket teams to its iconic village ground which has an old oak tree in the outfield. It was also one of the founder members and initial winners of the I’Anson Cup in the early 1900s.

Guest of honour Mark Ramprakash, the former England Test batsman, congratulated the club on its remarkable achievement and talked about his life as a cricketer and his experience on the TV show Strictly Come Dancing, which he won in 2006.

He also presented player-of-the-season awards to Tom Cain (Saturday, pictured) and Dave Erswell (Sunday) while Mike Charman received a special clubman of the double century tribute.

Club president Doug Thow said: “It was a moving and memorable evening demonstrating that the spirit of village cricket is alive and well in Lynchmere. After 200 years, the club is still in good shape and we look forward to continuing to play over many years ahead.”