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I first saw the wonderful photograph of Don Bradman batting at Worcester in the mid eighties. From that day forth I became enthralled by the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen. At our lovely ground alone (Worcestershire) he made three double centuries and a century and in four matches averaged nearly 202!

Having become so interested in his life, his effect on the game and indeed on Australia, I was fascinated when in 1989 the Bradman Pavilion, in Bowral, where the Don spent so much of his formative years, was opened in the presence of Sir Donald and Lady Bradman. This was followed by the Bradman Museum, opened on Sir Donald’s 88th birthday in 1996. The museum is a living centre of cricket history, especially the life of Don Bradman and provides inspiration for the future of the game through sponsoring youth cricket and offering a range of coaching camps at the Bradman Oval.

The museum has been an enormous success and a must for every cricket fan, whatever their nationality who visits the area around 70 miles south of Sydney. But how could this cricket and Bradman fan get to see it? In April last year chance made my dreams become reality.

Three years ago when Ashley Mote published his excellent book on the history of Hambledon, The Glory Days of Cricket, he came up with the idea of relaunching the original Hambledon Club, with the objectives of holding two lunches a year, raising money for local youth cricket and celebrating the great game. Subscriptions incidentally remain at three guineas, the same as they were over 200 years ago!

I could not believe my luck when last year the guest speaker was Alistair Maclennan from the Bradman Museum. He gave a fascinating insight into the development and aims of the museum and let slip that it ran a volunteer programme. This was my chance. A brief after lunch discussion led me to contacting his wife Jenny, who co-odinates the volunteer programme and in November my wife and I leave to spend two months in Bowral, working as a volunteer at the Museum, taking in some of the Ashes series and enjoying Australia.

Volunteers work in a number of areas. These include tour guiding, working on the collection, an extensive library and marketing. I must confess that my goals are to prove that I have sufficient knowledge and communication skills to act as a guide for some of my time there and despite being an aged off spinner get a game on the Bradman Oval.

So if you are visiting for the Ashes series do come and say hello and enjoy a brilliant piece of Australian sporting heritage. Incidentally England plays a Bradman XI at Bowral on January 8th. With Andy Bichel sharing a birthday with the ‘Don’ your visit would be another excellent Bowral – Worcestershire link!

John Grimsley