With the Bath Cricket Festival just over three months away the Bath Area Committee spearheaded by Chairman Robert Appleyard have plans for this year's festival, which is once again being sponsored by Bath based solicitors Withy King,well in hand.

This year the Bath Cricket Festival gets underway on Wednesday June 12th with a four day match against Hampshire, which is followed by a Norwich Union League match against Leicestershire on Sunday June 16th - a re-match of last year's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy Final.

The Bath Area Committee have arranged two events before the festival in June which will be of considerable interest not just to Somerset fans but to all cricket followers.

On Tuesday March 19th a Cricket Forum is taking place at Bath Cricket Club Pavilion which is situated in North Parade. The panel for the forum will include Somerset players Rob Turner, Richard Johnson and Keith Dutch, who all played a major part in helping to make 2001 such a memorable season for the county.

Admission to the Cricket Forum which is open to all is free, and the evening gets underway at 8pm.

A Spring Dinner in aid of the Lord's Taverner's and the Friends of Bath County Cricket Festival has also been arranged and will take place at Bath Cricket Club on Thursday April 11th.

The guest speaker for the Spring Dinner will be former Kent cricketer James Graham-Brown who is now the Headteacher at Bath Royal High School so a good evening with plenty of cricketing stories can be guaranteed.

Tickets for the dinner which gets underway at 7.30 for 8pm are priced at £22.50. Tickets and further details of either of the events can be obtained from Robert Appleyard, telephone number 01225 313906.

© SOMERSET