On Thursday 19 th June members of our club joined Cogenhoe and Whiston Heritage Society and guests including Mal Loye and Andrew Radd to the unveiling of a Green Plaque to mark the house in Cogenhoe where George Thompson lived with his wife Charlotte Mann.
This inaugural event of the Green Plaque initiative was the brainchild of the Cogenhoe and Whiston Heritage Society and they were encourage to honour Georges memory by Tim Street who in turn invited the cricket club to become involved.
Last Thursday we all gathered at The Elms 168 Station Road to hear the house owner Richard Deacon start proceedings outlining the idea behind the scheme. Richard was followed by ex Cogenhoe star although probably better known for his exploits with Northants,Lancashire and England Mal Loye. Mal gave a lovely address on how George had featured throughout his cricketing career and even today as he coaches cricket at Wellingborough School that connection is still there as George went to school there.
Club Chairman Roy Quennell followed Mal, speaking about the young George Thompson who currently plays for the Cogenhoe under 11`s and was last year voted the most improved player at the club. An amazing coincidence and offering a real link between the original George Thompson and his 2014 counterpart.
Tim Street was next to speak giving an insight into Georges life, living and playing cricket in Cogenhoe and indeed practicing in the back garden of the Elms.
The final guest speaker was Andrew Radd who spoke passionately of his admiration of George and how he played a major part in bringing County Cricket to Northamptonshire.
With the speeches finished it was over to young George to unveil the magnificent Green Plaque, a quite superb and fitting tribute to a wonderful man and cricketer. The assembled guests then moved to the garden for light refreshments.
It was a splendid evening with everyone in attendance agreeing the plaque was a stunning piece of work and certainly something that will help to keep history alive a phrase Society Chairman Ted Barnes uses to describe the work of the Cogenhoe and Whiston Heritage Society.
Cogenhoe Cricket Club would like to pass on its congratulations and thanks to Richard,Ted, Tim, Mal, Andrew and young George for a fantastic evening and also congratulate the Heritage Society for a wonderful initiative and we hope that this is the first of many Green Plaques that celebrate our villages history.
pictures courtesy of Mr J Ovett