THE PRESIDENT of Worcestershire County Cricket Club and a county Tory MP seem to have had a considerable influence on the decision of the Chancellor of the Exchequer 50 years ago to relieve cricket of entertainment tax.

The Journal of 1953 explained: "Following the Budget statement in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Gerald Nabarro, MP for Kidderminster, made public some correspondence he had with Major M.F.S. Jewell, president of Worcestershire CCC. It gives rise to some interesting speculation as to where Mr Rab Butler got his idea of relieving cricket of entertainment duty.

"About a month ago, Major Jewell sought Mr Nabarro's help in pressing the claim of cricket clubs for relief from tax and, in a long letter, he made out a strong case. Armed with this, Mr Nabarro had, over the past 14 days, spent time 'discussing the matter very fully with the Chancellor.' One notes that Major Jewell laid emphasis on cricket being part of the 'natural heritage' and a means of 'bringing the peoples of the Commonwealth together'.

It is hugely significant therefore that Mr Butler, in his Budget speech to the House, should choose to say: "In this country, cricket occupies a special place among sports, not only as forming part of the English tradition but in helping to bind together the various countries of the Commonwealth'.

"Since Tuesday, Mr Nabarro has sent a note to Major Jewell: 'No supplicant for a reduction of taxation has ever received a more punctilious and rapid response than yourself!'."

Worcestershire CCC was also in the news in the Journal exactly a century ago, planning fund-raising events to offset a big financial loss on the 1902 season.

"Even before the 1903 season is upon us, enthusiasts are anticipating the national summer pastime.

"In Worcestershire, next week's Shirehall bazaar for the benefit of the club's funds takes precedence over the fixtures in point of time as well as in importance.

"The fixtures are a little varied from last season. Derbyshire are not encountered, the Philadelphians are welcomed instead of the Australians, and visits are to be paid to both the Oxford and Cambridge universities. The talent will be the same as available last season."