(We are just awaiting final sign off for the precise date of this event from the England Cricket Board – don’t ask, it’s way too complicated to explain, even if we understood the reasons! – which should be received in the next week or so. That said, the 27th is looking much the most likely day.)

Lord’s, in leafy St John’s Wood, is the spiritual home of the cricketing world. Owned and managed by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the iconic ground boasts some pretty amazing architecture, including the ornate Victorian-era Pavilion, which dominates one end of the field.

Many Members are avid cricket followers and regular visitors there, but even for those who are not, a trip to Lord’s is to enter a different and extremely interesting world.

We are going as guests of the MCC on a day when no matches are being played,  so we should have the place largely to ourselves. We will start with a tour of the ground and then of the Lord’s Museum, which houses the original Ashes Urn, amongst many other treasures, before repairing to the Writing Room, overlooking the main cricket square, for lunch.

The meal will be the usual three courses, with all the trimmings, and our guest speaker will be the famous England international bowler and latterly, England selector, Angus Fraser. Gus played 87 times for England, and remains the all-time most successful bowler in the West Indies, which was quite a feat when one recalls that in his era it was home to the most fearsome team on the international circuit.

Gus was also a long-time giant of the Middlesex County team which included such other greats as Mike Brearley, Andrew Strauss, Mike Gatting, and Phil Edmonds. He followed up his stellar England career by first Captaining the County and then, after a spell as cricket correspondent for The Independent, serving as a highly successful Director of Cricket for 12 years, during which he won an especially nail-biting County Championship final in 2016.

Today, Gus is Director of the cricketing charity, Middlesex in the Community, which the Livery has long supported. He will be talking to us about the big issues in the game at present, what the future may hold and the important work of his charity. He has also kindly agreed to take questions.

Sadly, the Writing Room only seats 50, so you may need to book promptly to avoid disappoint. Dress for this event is always “Summer Garden Party” (ie jacket/blazer and tie for men – no jeans – and the equivalent for ladies.) Guests are most welcome and places will cost £129, when they go on sale.