Charity Cricket Dinner
After a 12 month absence, the Rotary Rochdale Cricket Dinner took place in March 2025.
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Raising money to help fund youth cricket coaching in the Rochdale borough, the dinner featured former footballer Duncan McKenzie. He regaled the audience with stories not just from his football career, but from his wide involvement in sport, including how he came to jump over Mini cars.
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The raffle and auction included signed bats and shirts from the England team along with tickets to the forthcoming Old Trafford Test Match. Over £1,000 was raised on the night.
The 2023 Cricket Dinner took place on 21st September where the guest speaker was former West Indies and Hampshire batsman Sir Gordon Greenidge KCMG MBE.
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The evening attended by 90 people included a three course meal, stand-up bingo, an auction of a specially commissioned watercolour by local artist Geoff Butterworth and a raffle.
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Rotarian John Holder a former Test Match umpire and Hampshire teammate of Sir Gordon organised the event, proceeds from which are to be used to fund Youth Cricket Coaching in the Rochdale Borough.
Rotarian John Holder, Ian Austin and President Selwyn Hodge
The 2022 Cricket dinner was held on Thursday 13th October with guest speaker Lancashire and England all-rounder Ian Austin. He entertained over 80 guests with a question-and-answer session in which he spoke about his career and the players who he had played against during his career.
Raffle prizes included a signed shirt and bat from the current Lancashire team, along with signed copies of Ian's book. The auction included two tickets to the 2023 Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
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The proceeds from the event will fund Youth Coaching in the Rochdale area.
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Former Hampshire cricketer and international umpire, Rotarian John Holder, organises an annual charity dinner to raise funds for the provision of coaching for young amateur cricketers in the Rochdale area.
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Over the last 8 years, the event has raised in excess of £20,000 with speakers including former England captains Michael Vaughan, Mike Gatting and David Gower along with Michael Holding, Devon Malcolm, Jonathan Agnew, Neil Mallender and Jim Cumbes.
The coaching scheme is administered through the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, a charity arm of Lancashire County Cricket Club.