VERY few villages can boast a home grown England cricketer - let alone two like Wrecclesham.

Although born 203 years apart, their contribution to the game is to be recognised at the Wrecclesham village fete on Sunday, June 26.

William Beldham, popularly known as ‘Silver Billy’, born in 1766, was an outstanding cricketer in the 19th century and is acknowledged as one of the greatest batsman of the sport’s underarm era.

In 1997 ‘Silver Billy’ was selected by The Times as “one of the greatest cricketers of all time”.

Silver Billy’s portrait is hung both in the Long Room at Lords, and in the John Major Suite at The Oval. It is understood to be the earliest surviving picture of any cricketer.

For as long as most Wrecclesham villagers can remember, another image of ‘Silver Billy’ could be seen on the pub sign outside The Cricketers pub in the centre of the village, which was Billy’s favourite watering hole.

The sign was taken down when the pub closed in 2006 and was replaced by an Indian restaurant, the Bengal Lounge.

This sign has been recovered by the Wrecclesham History Project, and is to be re-erected at the Wrecclesham recreation ground immediately adjacent to Yew Tree Cottage where ‘Silver Billy’ lived for most of his life.

Appropriately, the unveiling of the new sign will be undertaken by Graham Thorpe, the only other England cricketer to have lived, and learned his game, in Wrecclesham at 3pm during the village fete.

Graham, now the England batting coach, was a first choice for England for 12 years from 1993 to 2005, during which time he played in 100 test matches. He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1998, and was awarded an OBE in 2006.

The names of both Billy Beldham and Graham Thorpe are included in Farnham Town Council’s Wall of Fame in South Street.

The Wrecclesham History Project wishes to acknowledge, with grateful thanks, financial support to this Project from Surrey County Council, Farnham Town Council, The Farnham Trust, The Farnham Institute Trust, Surrey County Cricket Club, Surrey County Playing Fields Association, Wise and Co, Farnham, and especially Wrecclesham businesses, The Royal Oak, Southern Co-op, BBS Electrical, and Undertakers, Thorne Leggatt.