January 2026 HGMC Bat & Chat
First and foremost, I’d like to say a huge thank you to, Chris for putting this evening together. I’d also like to apologise for the lack of pictures. I was having such a great time that I completely forgot to take any!
About the evening:
Once everybody had arrived introductions were made for the newcomers whilst some of our regulars caught up. To get us formally under way, Chris talked about the inspiration behind the evening and how it came to be something he is so passionate about. Chris is an avid cricket fan and loves the game at every level. Whether he’s watching games at his local club on the weekends, keeping up with professional cricket domestic and international or looking at how the culture around the sport continues to change and grow. Chris just loves cricket. He was deeply saddened by the suicide of professional cricketer Graham Thorpe in 2024.
Following the tragic suicide of Graham Thorpe, his family and the cricket community at large have begun to look into how the cricketing world can do more to support and advocate better mental health. The point of this evening is to use cricket as an ice breaker for conversation and to get everyone doing something physical at the same time. Starting off the year with a fully booked HGMC event serves as a great reminder of why we organise these evenings. Chris divided us into two groups. Whilst one group was bowling and batting, the other was fielding (no pun intended) some questions about cricket. This felt somewhat like a pub quiz, with the questions being designed around people’s knowledge of cricket being potential zero. Think “Would I Lie to You” meets “Eggheads”.
After each group had participated in a couple of rounds of each activity, we came together for a chat. Providing men a space to talk and be heard is our MO. Often just knowing that they can speak openly and be heard without judgment is enough to eleviate a lot of pressure. We ensure everybody has equal space and time and provide reassurance that anything said is treated with confidence and reverence. These evenings serve as a great introduction to Hector’s House, as people get to see firsthand how warm and compassionate we are. Often these make a great introductory step that leads people to crucial support. The group left with improved mood and some new connections made. Thanks again to Chris, Richard and Mike for looking after us all so well and for keeping us entertained.
We hope to see you at the next one.
