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History of IFCR
Message from Geoffrey Pike
Founder of the Rotary Cricket Fellowship - IFCR
It was at the Rotary International Assembly at Nashville
in 1986 that the idea of an exchange of parties of
cricket-playing Rotarians between districts in the
United Kingdom and India was discussed. There then
followed several years of exchanges between India, South
Africa and the West Indies and it became clear that a
new Rotary Vocational Fellowship would succeed and on
25th May 1993 the formal launching of the International
Fellowship of Cricket Loving Rotarians took place in the
Long Room of the Melbourne Cricket Club courtesy of the
Australian Cricket Board.
Tours have since taken place between Australia, India,
New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and
the West Indies. The incoming tourists have not only
been able to enjoy the delights of a new country seen
through the eyes of their Rotarian hosts but they have
also acted as "missionaries" and have shown that even
though one's body may have declined the enjoyment of the
game has not diminished. There are many examples of
people who thought their playing days had long gone but
have realised that Rotary cricket is played at a more
sedate pace. Even the Australian sledging is more polite
in Rotary cricket.
We have also established regular World Festivals. The
first was in Fordingbridge in England in 1997. This was
followed by Chennai, India in 1999, Christchurch, New
Zealand in 2002 and the Hunter Valley of New South Wales
in Australia in November 2004.
But IFCR is not just about playing cricket. It is just
the excuse for bringing together the fellowship that
Rotary and cricket combines so uniquely. Long may it
survive.
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