We were delighted to welcome Tim Curtis, former Worcestershire and England batter, as our first speaker of 2026 on Wednesday 7 January. Tim delivered a thoroughly engaging evening, combining warmth, humour and thoughtful insight drawn from a distinguished playing career.
Tim reflected on his early cricketing influences, particularly his father and his admiration for Tom Graveney, before discussing how player development has changed since his own pathway through school, college and university cricket. Tim shared memorable stories from his sporting life, having uniquely played in both a Twickenham rugby final and a Lord’s one-day cricket final.
Much of the evening focused on his successful years with Worcestershire, including opening the batting with Ian Botham and being part of the club’s golden era in the late 1980s. He spoke highly of teammates such as Graham Hick and recalled playing alongside and against many of the game’s greats, including Mike Procter, Courtney Walsh, Graham Dilley and Malcolm Marshall.
Tim also offered balanced views on the modern game, discussing the current performance and style of play of England in the Ashes, importance of central contracts, the impact of The Hundred, and the future of county cricket. He expressed strong belief that Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the sport, despite evolving formats and challenges.
Entertaining, intelligent, articulate and modest throughout, Tim Curtis provided members with a memorable and insightful evening, blending rich cricketing history with informed perspectives on the game today. Hard to believe that it was more than 30 years since Tim’s last appearance at our society and hoping he doesn’t leave it that long till his next visit.
Sushil Sidhu – Jan 2026