Harrow Discovery Centre

26/08/2026

Glenelg River is brimming and our yarning circle next to our billabong is submerged, however, the ducks and bird life are loving it , plenty of yarning going on not to mention the cacophony of frogs.

14/08/2026

https://www.standard.net.au/story/9325915/royal-welcome-for-fionas-artwork-honouring-indigenous-cricketers/
The painting by Aunty Fiona Clarke that I serendipitously fluked witnessing its unpacking in May

The artwork is Fiona Clarke's first international commission.

03/08/2026

it was an honour to meet one of Yellanach-Johnny Cuzens descendants today, Darren Rix. Darrren and co author, Craig Cormick, are collaborating to write a new book on the story of the First XI. I look forward to the launch of what promises to be an incredible new insight from a First Nations perspective.

13/06/2026

The latest additions to our collection.
Mike Brearley’s ‘The Art of Captaincy’ and ‘The Extra Test’ by Dr Andrew Hignell, both books signed by their author. The 2026 Wisden has also arrived thanks to Andrew Farran.
Mike Brearley captained England against Graham Yallop’s XI in the ‘78 ‘79 Ashes series in what was a very turbulent era in Australian cricket. England won 5-1.

11/06/2026

25/05/2026

The view of Lords Cricket Ground from the members stand, T20 Middlesex v Kent, women’s followed by men’s. So many beautiful portraits, you would need a day just appreciating them, so much to take in. Better still, look what’s coming home to Harrow to be our latest installation! That fabric!!🏏❤️

23/05/2026

Nick Tudball, editor of The (English) Cricket Society Journal, invited me to dinner and evening presentation on the life of WG Grace (and other cricket stuff), there has got to be a collective noun for a room full of cricket tragics! Great night, but my job was to pick up Mike Brearley, former English captain who, incidentally, was the opposing captain when Graham Yallop captained Australia in the ‘78-79 Ashes series. Lovely man, good for a laugh, just as well, we got stuck in peak hour traffic for an hour! MB pictured here bottom left. The other bloke, who’s name I can’t remember wrote the mini series Grandchester, if you are a fan?

20/05/2026

MULLAGH, in County Cavan, the village that Irish gentleman, Owen O Reilly, left to make (more of) his fortune in colonial Victoria, naming his settlement Mullagh Station. The St Killian’s Archive Society had only two weeks before my arrival found the name ‘Johnny Mullagh’ and googled it to see if there was any connection to Mullagh, their village. Then I emailed them enquiring about historical information on O Reilly. They could not believe it! Another ‘what the???’moment!
What a day, I was taken to significant, ancient sites, the medieval graveyard where O Reilly’s ancestors lay dating back to 1629, the ruins of his family home that the IRA used as a training camp, and afternoon tea with Daphne, who is a descendant of O Reillys wife, Shackleton the Antarctic explorer, coincidentally, relative of Baz and Carol Seymour of Yat Nat and other folk I know in Robe. 😵‍💫crazy small world . The best day finished off with dinner in St Killians pub in Mullagh, a beautiful Irish pub.
Bucket list ✔️☘️

17/05/2026

Oh Ireland. 🍀☘️I’m not Irish but I have certainly been lucky! Sean Smith, who visited the Harrow Discovery Centre in March could not have given me a better introduction to Dublin. Sean is a cricket enthusiast and former president of the Pembroke Cricket Club ( third oldest in Ireland) and could not have been kinder and more hospitable. Next day it was off to the Phoenix vs Pembroke match, which despite being washed out, was an experience in itself! Phoenix is the oldest CC in Ireland and Charles Lawrence was instrumental in its development in the early days. John Mullins was our host for the day and to say that he is passionate about the history of his beloved club is an understatement! (and a bloody character!!) Ian Friend (grt grt grandson of CL) provided him with some extracts from C Ls diary , never seen before, that completely overwhelmed him. We will be keeping in touch, providing more insight into the life of CL in preparation for the clubs 200th anniversary celebrations in 2030. Start packing your bags Ian Friend😜🏏.

15/05/2026

Capping off a wonderful week in Wales at the Glamorgan Cricket Club-Museum of Welsh cricket was a highlight. Dr Andrew Hignell, whom we met last year in Swansea, presented us with his latest publication “Cricket in Swansea and The Mullagh Medal” the Welsh love that of the 47 games played on the 1868 tour, only one was played in Wales and that is the photo depicted on the Mullagh Medal. Good ‘ol Welsh and English rivalry alive and well!
Then popped into the SS Great Britain Museum in Bristol to catch up with the good folk we met there last year and I just happened to fluke the curatorial team opening up Aunty Fiona Clarke’s painting that they commissioned her to paint for their museum extension. How serendipitous!