‘Getting more kids playing and loving cricket is the key to the game’s future.  I wish Chalke Valley Cricket Club all the best luck in fulfilling their dream of building a new ground.’
KEVIN PIETERSEN, ENGLAND CAPTAIN

‘Please pass onto other members of your cricket club my good wishes on your attempts to move site to Bowerchalke. As someone who started off playing village cricket I know how important a local cricket club can be to the community. Good luck raising the funds that you need.
MIKE ATHERTON, former England Captain, author and cricket commentator

‘What a joy to hear of a new cricket ground opening. It sounds as though the clock has been turned back with no traffic noise, rolling countryside – and plenty of rain! It reminds me of my first visits to England all those years ago. I wish Chalke Valley Cricket Club so much success that others follow in your footsteps.’
SIR GARFIELD SOBERS, West Indian Cricket Legend

‘It is extremely heartening, at a time when cricket has receded in many villages and cities because of social changes that put a higher value on shopping or watching the telly, to hear that a few enlightened folk at a thriving club like Chalke Valley are raising money with great determination to build a new ground dedicated to cricket.  I was at school in Wiltshire and have vivid memories of the sheer joy of playing cricket in beautiful surroundings in days of high summer. The site of Bowerchalke’s new ground, beneath the chalk downs I remember with affection, sounds heavenly and I wish all involved with the project the best of luck in raising the necessary funds, then in creating a ground that will encourage both a vigorous club for the good and enjoyment of local youngsters and the maintenance of the great tradition of English village cricket.
CHRISTOPHER MARTIN-JENKINS MBE, cricket writer and Test Match Special Commentator

‘I would like to wish Chalke Valley Cricket Club the best of luck with their initiative to create a new ground in Bowerchalke. It will encourage more and more people of all ages to get involved in this great game, which can only be good. Best wishes and good luck to you all.’
TOM GRAVENEY, former England batsman, commentator, and MCC President 2005

‘Cricket has always been a great love of mine and I spent much of the summer watching Durham and England. Any new development at a time when grounds are being closed down and built on can only be good news. Our game is in a good state at the moment , with good cricketers coming through at the highest level but to keep that happening we must have the grounds and the facilities to encourage the youngsters at grass roots, providing the facilities for young players to enjoy a great game. Good luck to Chalke Valley Cricket Club and its young cricketers.’
SIR BOBBY ROBSON, October 28 2008, football legend

‘Good luck with the new ground and I wish you all many happy days playing the game.’
ALBERT FINNEY, actor

‘I’m delighted that in an age when cricket at the top level appears to be selling its soul that there are still cricketers such as those of Chalke Valley pursuing ambitious objectives purely for the sake of the game.’
SIR TIM RICE

‘The Wisden Cricketer believes strongly in the grassroots of the English game and we wish Chalke Valley Cricket Club all the very best in their plans to build a new ground which will enable cricketers of all of ages to play and develop their game.’
THE WISDEN CRICKETER MAGAZINE

‘Congratulations.  England’s future is in safe hands with the vision, enthusiasm, and energy generated by Chalke Valley Cricket Club.  A brilliant project, and the Bunburies can’t wait to come down and help youngsters in South Wiltshire to realize their dream of playing for England – there is no greater honour.  The focus is now on Chalke Valley – well done!’
DAVID ENGLISH, founder BUNBURY CRICKET CLUB and Vice-President of ENGLISH SCHOOLS’ CRICKET ASSOCIATION

‘Of all the cricket I have played over 50 years, I look on village cricket as being the most enjoyable. Village cricket is the backbone of cricket in England and anyone who has the energy and enthusiasm to promote it will have the support of all lovers of the game. I wish the Chalke Valley Cricket Club all possible success in their move to Bowerchalke and with their aim to promote junior cricket and maintain the traditional values of the village game.’
CHARLES FRY, MCC Chairman & MCC President 2003/4

‘First there was the reverse sweep and more recently the introduction of the switch-hit, but now there is something to really turn things around. Instead of the general trend of sports facilities being closed down a traditional village cricket ground is being built in rural Wiltshire. Excellent news.  I am only too happy to support the project in the Chalke Valley. It will be great for the community and especially the children who will benefit from the new facilities and good coaching. Good luck to all concerned.
LAWRIE McMENEMY MBE, former football manager & coach and Vice-President Hampshire Cricket

‘Congratulations to all those who have inspired the community to create a new cricket ground in Bowerchalke. The outcome of your efforts will give much happiness and fulfillment to all, young and old, who live nearby and will doubtless enrich the sporting and social development of the valley. Many will visit the new ground and I would love to be first in the queue – or at least not far off!  Very good luck with it all.
JOHN BARCLAY, MCC Committee, President of the Cricket Society, President of the English Schools Cricket Association, Chairman of the Sussex Cricket Board, Director of Cricket at the Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club and Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation, Former captain Sussex CCC and England Manager

‘Cricket and all sport must start at the grass roots level and this project is to be admired. For youngsters to fall in love with the game is a must as they are the life blood of the sport. A beautiful new ground with good facilities will attract both young and old alike. My very best wishes to all those involved as you set about all the hard work in creating a superb new ground for the Chalke Valley Cricket Club.  Good luck from a lifelong lover of sport.’
JIMMY TARBUCK OBE, Comedian

‘The chance to be part of a day’s cricket at a lovely ground in fair or glorious weatheramongst companions and in fellowship with other players is an education in itself for the young spirit – and even a reminder to him of what happiness is and can be. Such memories remain a lifetime in the heart. It is also a true nursery ground where significant talent in the young can be spotted, developed and encouraged and as importantly it is a ground where young and old, good and bad, all can ‘have a go’. Nothing is more faithful to the spirit of sport than cricket played in beautiful surroundings between two villages. I send every good wish to the Chalke Valley Cricket Club as it sets about creating its wonderful new ground.’
EDWARD FOX OBE Actor

‘In 1987, Longparish, the village where I was born before the dawn of time and still live, became World Champions – or the next best thing. They won the National Village Cricket Championship (660 starters). Better still, the team all spoke with a good Hampshire accent and beat the Yorkshire Champions in the final at Lord’s. It made for a wonderful season and the party to end all parties, and it will give you something to aim at on your fine new ground. How about a Lord’s final in a few years’ time between Longparish and the Chalke Valley Cricket Club? It sounds good to me. The best of luck, anyway, in your noble ambition.
JOHN WOODCOCK, OBE,  cricket writer and journalist, former Chief Cricket Correspondent of The Times former Editor of Wisden Cricketers Almanack

‘Winning the hearts and minds of our young people and teaching them the skills and virtues of cricket is really important. This initiative must succeed.  The Chalke Valley Cricket project will give the next generation a new challenge in sporting achievement and a new sense of belonging in Wiltshire that will equip them well to meet the challenges they will face in life.’
ROBERT KEY, MP – Member of Parliament for Salisbury

‘Wiltshire Cricket Board is in full support of this wonderful project to bring Cricket back to the Chalke Valley. I know how much work James and the rest of the committee are putting in to this relocation and we wish you all the luck possible. Developing Cricket at a grassroots level is what the County Board are all about so it is great to see a Club that is driving the development of a youth section, working with the local school and looking to have an impact of Children’s futures for many years to come. The project has the Boards full support and would be happy to help if and when we can.’
Steve Silk, ECB Wiltshire Cricket Development Manager

‘As a resident of Bowerchalke and the Chalke Valley I fully support the proposed movement of the cricket ground to Bowerchalke. It would provide a much-needed sporting social focus for a village currently lacking both a pub and a shop. It would stimulate both the youngsters of Bowerchalke and provide a focus within the village from outside. Its setting would be second to none and would be in harmony with a longstanding tradition of cricket in the village, which came to an end in the late 1980s.’
Mark Pettitt, Bowerchalke Resident

‘Annie and I are delighted to hear of your plans to establish a new home for the Chalke Valley CC in the heart of Bowerchalke.  There was much sadness when the last game was played on the old village cricket field and I have no doubt that your scheme will be welcomed with great enthusiasm, not only by the residents of this village, but by the ten villages spread along the Chalke Valley. The village is easily accessible, is on the Salisbury to Shaftesbury bus route and lies centrally within the Valley.  The proposed site for the cricket field is ideal:  It will provide good facilities for parking and for spectators, while causing little or no disruption for village residents. I wish you and the Chalke Valley CC every success with this worthwhile project and I look forward to watching the first match.’
Peter and Annie Walker, Bowerchalke Residents

‘We have heard that Chalke Valley Cricket Club would like to have their cricket pitch based in Bowerchalke.  What a fantastic idea, from what we have heard about the plans for this,it  will be a great thing for our village. We have lost all of our amenities from our village.Once this was up and running it would also give our children somewhere to go and play.  The last time cricket was played in Bowerchalke was in 1973 please bring something back to our village where the youngsters would have an opportunities to be taught how to play cricket. This has our full support.’  Helen and Nick Gulliver, Bowerchalke Residents