A bit of history was on view at Carrickfergus Cricket Club when a 130 year old bat belonging to a former member was presented to the club by his granddaughter.
The bat, which has been in her family for all those years was handed over to the local club by Mrs Lorraine Addison of Accrington, Lancashire. It had been presented by the Carrick Club to her grandfather David Houston, who was a notable player for the club, in 1887, and carries a silver shield on the back with an engraving to that effect. Mr Houston, who resided in the Whitewell area, moved to work in Lancashire in the 1890’s, and the bat went with him, and has remained with his family since his death in 1928. Mrs Addison, who was visiting Northern Ireland for the first time in over 60 years, said that she was delighted to bring it “home” to Carrickfergus. Mrs Addison was accompanied on her trip by son Gary, who carried on the family tradition by playing cricket for Accrington CC in the Lancashire League, and daughter in law Annette.
They are pictured handing over the bat and a framed photograph of Mr Houston holding it, to Carrickfergus Cricket Club Chairman Jim Nelson during the tea interval of the Premier League match v CSNI at Middle Road on Saturday.