The Archives Committee experienced an extremely busy year in 2009, with a range of activities and projects undertaken, and 2010 promises to be even busier as we get closer to launching the new Yorkshire Cricket Museum at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground.

Fifty years ago the Championship of 1959 was the start of a run of seven Championship wins through the 1960s, and this was celebrated at the opening lunch and with displays in the Long Room cabinets which have jogged a few memories.

The resume of previous encounters with our opponents produced in recent seasons by Roy Wilkinson and Nigel Pullan for noticeboards and in the boxes has now been extended in an abridged format to the Championship match scorecard.

The portrait of Sir Leonard Hutton, which was loaned to Yorkshire to mark the 70th anniversary of his record-breaking 364 at the Oval in 1938, was returned to Lord’s, but prior to its return we were able to copy it in the form of a canvas print with the agreement of the Hutton family. One of these is on display in the Taverners Suite of the Old Pavilion.

Ashes Festival in Leeds: At the invitation of Leeds Rugby we have assisted with the creation of a collection featuring the greatest events and personalities in Headingley’s history as a venue for rugby and cricket, and as a buildup to the Ashes Test we helped with the Ashes Festival in Leeds. The Ashes Exhibition in the Leeds Museum was the background to a number of events held in support of the Festival. Christopher Martin-Jenkins presented a lecture on the Ashes Tests at Headingley in the new Leeds Met Business School (the Rose Bowl) for which we provided supporting information and illustrative materials.

Hedley Verity Blue Plaque: On August 19, by arrangement with Leeds Civic Trust, the committee unveiled a Blue Plaque at 4 Welton Grove, Burley, the early home of Hedley Verity. We were delighted that his son, Douglas, was present to carry out the unveiling. Short addresses were given by the Civic Trust chairman, YCCC Management Board member Robin Smith, and Douglas Verity. The Yorkshire Regiment provided a bugler, and the Regimental Secretary read a poem compiled by David Fine as a tribute.

The Cricket Centre bar area: received a facelift with sketches of the Yorkshire Legends, pictures of successful teams and photographs of the current squad to be updated annually.

The Museum Project: progressed well with the appointment of Mather & Co as the contractors who will undertake the assignment with the support of the committee. They have an impressive track record, having been responsible for the Lawn Tennis Museum at Wimbledon and the Arsenal and Manchester City museums, among others. The layout has been determined, and work is well advanced with the selection of material to support themes for the various initial displays. It is hoped that the opening will take place in the autumn.

Legends DVDs: The new series of DVDs featuring another group of Yorkshire Legends in Sir Leonard Hutton, Freddie Trueman, Jimmy Binks, Bryan Stott, Ken Taylor, Don Wilson and Dickie Bird was launched. We are delighted that the Cricket Society in a review of the series comments that the Trueman tribute "exemplifies all that is good about the project", and praises the "enlightened administration" for preserving the past with this series of interviews.

Fred Trueman Statue Appeal: The committee has represented the Club on the Fred Trueman Statue Appeal by providing images and advice to the sculptor, Graham Ibbeson, and this project was due to come to fruition in March 2010, with the installation of the statue in Skipton.

Auctions: We have acquired at auctions, by direct purchase and been gifted a number of interesting items of memorabilia during the year. We are indebted to all who have found these items in drawers, lofts and cupboards — and we are always hopeful of more. The Club website has information on our displays and other activities, and is regularly updated by James Greenfield. We seek to spread details of our activities by talks to cricket societies and tours of Headingley.

We are most fortunate in having a team of dedicated committee members with a mix of expertise, who continue to give their time to bring-our various activities to fruition, and for which I am most appreciative. Committee members during 2009: J C David Allan, Peter Anderson, Richard Coates, Ron Deaton, James Greenfield, Harold North, Roy Wilkinson and Mick Pope. David Hall CBE TD is chairman of the Archives Committee.

David Hall, Chairman of the Archives Committee