TWO items in last week's Journal (January 26) are connected by a common theme - cricket and Evesham.

Mr Fisher's letter headed Cricket Captain asks about H H Stephenson, who captained the first England team to tour Australia in 1861-62. H H Stephenson was certainly active in cricket in the Evesham area, although he actually played for Tewkesbury against Evesham in 1861, the summer before he went to Australia. In subsequent years it is understood he played for Evesham from time to time while employed at Wood Norton.

Elsewhere in The Journal, Michael J Barnard tells of cricket and hockey at Evesham Cricket Club during the Second World War. There was cricket of one sort or another at Evesham Cricket Club throughout the war, including matches against various RAF sides. Mr Barnard's photograph shows players on the steps of the cricket pavilion, which was built in 1906 and completely restored in 2003.

There is more about H H Stephenson and much more about war-time and post-war cricket in Evesham, in the book A History of Evesham Cricket Club, published by the club and on sale now in bookshops in Evesham, price £5. The book includes an Evesham CC team photo from 1943 - again, taken in front of the pavilion which is in use to this day.

We are still keen to hear peoples' memories of cricket in Evesham, and always on the lookout for photographs from the old days, perhaps with a view to producing a second edition of this very popular book. If anyone can help us with more information to add to our archives about cricket in Evesham since the club was founded in 1854, please phone me on 01386 852059.

ROBERT SHAW, Hon Secretary, Evesham Cricket Club, Springfield Lane, Broadway.