Spend much of today bunking off from the election campaign to attend Twicket – the world’s first livestream of a village cricket match featuring the Lancashire village of Wray versus “The Rest of the World”. And what a fine day in a fine place.
Wray is one of those places that seem to work.There’s a little spark, a bit of magic that brings it all alive. I’m sure on dull November midweek afternoons the village is less delightful and no doubt there are moments when folk don’t get along but on this particular Spring day with the sun shining the place worked.
The magic is the people – those who do things, organise things, turn ideas into activities. We assume, do we not, that scarecrow festivals, straw races, holly scroggling and other such community events emerge from out of the ether – we seldom stop to think of the hours put in to making these events so good or of the wonderful people who provide the impetus to make and sustain these event.
And even better when the eyes of the world were turned to the village – over 2000 viewers of the livestream, the BBC popping in to film and interview and a good bunch of spectators enjoying the sunshine and a game of cricket – to see local people, visitors and those running the livestream working together to make an event like Twicket a success!
And like so often happens, I got roped in – on this occasion to do the match commentary with the lovely Brenda, a local resident and, it seems, a natural broadcaster with a love for Pimms! You can see the results here.
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