Nov 23, 2011

The countdown to Christmas got well and truly underway on the 19th November with thousands attending the Basildon BIG Switch On.

Hosted by Heart Essex DJs Matt Mackay and AJ, the event saw fun and festivities throughout the afternoon with the likes of Josh Dubovie, Kayzar Reloaded, Lee Bennett, Karizma Dance and the cast of the Towngate Pantomime all performing.

Street Entertainment, market stalls and rides and amusements ran throughout the day with the event culminating with Essex Cricket stars Maurice Chambers and Graham Napier joining the Mayor of Basildon, Cllr Mo Larkin and Santa Claus to turn on the switch and light up the town.

Earlier in the day, the Essex County Cricket Board took over the centre of Basildon High Street. The team, led on the day by Patrick Ward, gave demonstrations of Street20 Cricket which we are currently delivering throughout Essex.

Street20 is a 6 a side game using a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape, the ball behaves in the same way as a cricket ball except without the sting, so young people can simply turn up and play without needing pads or any equipment of their own. Street20 is fast and fun, and is rapidly developing in the county. There are over 2000 children and young people taking part in Street20 on a weekly basis in Essex, with a multitude of projects taking place on local housing estates around the county.

Street20 in Essex is supported by the Essex Cricket and Community Trust, sponsored by LifeSkills and Amlin, and also supported by Sport England, The Lord Taverners and Cricket4Change.

If you would like to get involved in Street20 please contact Chris Drummond by email chris.drummond@essexcricket.org.uk or telephone  01245 254027.

Thank you to all those who attended on the day.