The major work of art, several years in the making, depicting many leading characters from the world of cricket along with numerous staunch supporters of Surrey County Cricket Club in front of the Pavilion at the AMP Oval in Kennington, painted by renowned portrait and landscape artist Jocelyn Galsworthy, is being unveiled in the Long Room at the AMP Oval on Wednesday, 27th February 2002, in the presence of many of its subjects.

The unveiling is to be undertaken by former Minister for Sport, Kate Hoey MP who is a keen enthusiast for many sports, including cricket in particular. She is a Vice President of the Club, a former Surrey CCC Committee member as well as being MP for Vauxhall.

This remarkable oil painting, which measures 10 ft x 6 ft, was commissioned in 1994 by Surrey CCC, in anticipation of the Club's 150th anniversary the following year. It has taken a number of years to reach completion since it was to be funded by contributions from most of the subjects included, to benefit the Surrey County Cricket Trust, whose primary purpose is to provide coaching in the deprived areas of South London.

After vigorous efforts to achieve the required level of subscription to make the project viable, it now includes more than 150 individuals, either seated on the terrace in front of the pavilion or, in the case of a number of very prominent luminaries associated with either the game of cricket in general or Surrey CCC in particular, standing in front. The latter include the Rt Hon John Major (currently President of Surrey CCC), Sir Paul Getty, Sir Alec Bedser, Micky and Alec Stewart, John Edrich and the late Alf Gover, Peter May and E W (Jim) Swanton; whilst seated, it is possible to identify Eric Bedser, many members of the current and past Surrey teams, Kate Hoey MP, Rachael Hayhoe-Flint, Judith Chalmers, the late Colin (Lord) Cowdrey, Raman Subba Row, Sir Tim Rice, Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie, Christopher Martin-Jenkins and Bill Frindall.

Jocelyn Galsworthy is renowned particularly for painting over many years, in pastel or oils, some of the most prominent and beautiful cricket grounds in the UK and around the world. Her work is highly sought after and has recently included a privately commissioned oil painting of last summer's "Ashes" Test Match at Lord's, depicting the Waugh twins batting (and yet again thwarting England's ultimately failed attempt to conquer the antipodean challenge); the inaugural Final of the C&G Trophy, the premier one day county competition, also at Lord's and now hanging proudly at the headquarters of Cheltenham & Gloucester plc; England-v-South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town in 2000; the 100th Test Match at Lord's again West Indies, and England-v-West Indies at The Oval, both also in 2000; England-v-Australia at Melbourne in 1998 - dubbed "the Greatest Test Match of All Time"; Glamorgan CCC at their Sophia Gardens, Cardiff ground; the "Rose Bowl", Hampshire CCC's exciting new headquarters; a "triptych" of the Oxford 2000 Wandering Cricket Clubs Festival; the HAC ground in the City of London, the Brigade of Guards ground at Burton's Court in Chelsea and a number of matches during the last World Cup, held in the UK during 1999.

Now that this project has been completed, Jocelyn Galsworthy will soon be setting out on a 5-week tour of New Zealand, to capture on canvas a number of England's Test Match battles as well as adding to her considerable oeuvre of landscapes and portraits - where her professional career began and her reputation was established over 40 years' ago.

From 26th June to 3rd July 2001, Jocelyn Galsworthy will also be marking an "important" milestone in her life by holding a Diamond Exhibition of her paintings at the Tryon Gallery in Bury Street, St James's, London, SW1, which will comprise a broad cross section of her work, both retrospective and current, to include her New Zealand achievements.

Commenting on the unveiling of Surrey's exciting new acquisition, Michael Soper, the Chairman of Surrey CCC said: "It is marvellous to see this 150th Anniversary project now completed. In the process, it has raised substantial funds to aid the important work carried out by the Surrey County Cricket Trust, providing the development and coaching of cricket in the poorer and most deprived parts of South London

© Surrey CCC