A celebration of WG Grace begins at this Friday's T20 against Middlesex
13 May 2015
This week, on Friday 15 May, BBC Radio Bristol launches its new season of programmes celebrating the life and career of WG Grace with a broadcast of Geoff Twentyman’s Drivetime show live from the Bristol County Ground during our first home NatWest T20 Blast match against Middlesex.
In October, it will be 100 years since WG passed away, and the radio station is marking the anniversary with a series of programmes over the next six months, leading up to WG’s anniversary on Friday 23 October.
WG was the greatest cricketer of his generation – many believe of any generation – and BBC Radio Bristol will tell the story not only of the cricketer but also of the family man and doctor, who trained at the Bristol Medical School and spent most of his professional career in Easton.
A host of experts and family members have been involved in the production of this new season of programmes, which includes interviews from the BBC archives of those who met and played with Grace, including his Granddaughter Primrose. The station has also brought together a descendant of each of WG's brothers and sisters for a recorded reunion at Downend Cricket Club.
On Friday 23 October, BBC Radio Bristol will broadcast live from the WG Grace Memorial Ground – the home of Downend Cricket Club. The highlight on the day will be a special one-hour documentary called WG, narrated by Test Match Special's Jonathan Agnew.
Other highlights include:
Grace's West - A series showcasing some of the locations around the West that are affiliated with WG, including the story of how Gloucestershire CCC came to end up at Ashley Down and Easton, where WG was the local Doctor.
WG's family tree – ‘The Champion’ isn't the only amazing story of the Grace family and this series will include stories about WG's inventor Granddad, the rivalry with his brother EM and the man who taught WG how to play – his Uncle Alfred.
The Grace Tour - BBC Radio Bristol want your Grace stories too, as they will be touring some the highlights of the series around some of the local clubs that are affiliated with the Grace family, including Bedminster, Downend and Thornbury.
