The wonderful old pavilion at Stanway Cricket Club, one of many stunning features around the Cotswolds, is 100 not out.

Cricket enthusiasts and historians in the county will know that the eye-catching wooden structure was built with funds donated by J M Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, by local builder John Oakey way back in 1925.

Barrie, a keen cricket fan, used to stay at the nearby Stanway House in the 1920s and, like the many cricketers who have played at Stanway over the past century, he can’t fail to have been impressed by Oakey’s workmanship.

And it’s easy to see why because it really is a striking building with its thatched roof and walls of larch poles.

But perhaps the pavilion’s standout feature is that it actually sits on a dozen or more staddle stones, which are shaped like mushrooms and raise the structure three feet above the ground.

The pavilion has certainly stood the test of time and although the exterior has altered little over the years, internally plenty of work has taken place.

“It’s changed a lot in the 40 years I’ve been associated with the club,” said Nigel Colwell, who has been club chairman for the past three years.

“When I first started playing for Stanway we had running water, but we had no electric, no showers and no toilets.

“Now we’ve got all of those features, plus we’ve got a bar.”

And they are a successful cricket club on and off the pitch.

“We have a Saturday league team and we play friendlies on Sundays and in midweek,” added Colwell, an ex-wicketkeeper who captained the club for some 20 years.

The Saturday team, who are led by Aaron Batchelor, are playing in the expanded Gloucestershire County League this season after finishing runners-up in the Premier Division of the Cheltenham/Gloucester/Forest of Dean League in 2024.

And Colwell believes the club have a bright future.

“Yes, I  do,” he said. “Partly because of the setting, it’s a beautiful ground, and partly because of the way we play the game, we play in a fair and competitive way.”

And there are a good number of volunteers who are doing their bit to make sure the club continues to survive and thrive.

“I think we are more viable than many clubs,” continued Colwell. “It’s more about the club than the team.

“You do need a lot of volunteers, it’s not just about turning up on the day of a game. We’re lucky because I think there is a strong commitment among the players to give longevity.

“They help with the wicket preparation and general ground maintenance, while also keeping the pavilion up together and, importantly, running the bar.”

The club also have a very committed groundsman in Andy O’Brien, someone who has considerable knowledge of wicket preparation partly derived from his time working at Cheltenham College.

“We’re lucky to have him, the wicket is very good,” said Colwell. “It’s one of the best in the area.”

The club have recently bought covers and a new roller and have just invested in an electronic scoreboard, with Colwell adding: “We’ve got a very prudent treasurer, Brian Bellamy is very sensible with money.

“We are in a much stronger position than we were a few years ago, both playing and financially.”

The club pay a peppercorn rent to Stanway House for the use of their ground, with Colwell saying: “We’re very grateful for their support, it’s a stunning setting. We’re very, very fortunate to be playing cricket in this part of the Cotswolds.”

Woodmancote 3rds also use the ground when it’s available and it’s going to get even more use this season as Stanway celebrate what is, after all, a very special centenary.

The club have already staged an all-day game between the Chairman’s XI and the Captain’s XI and they have another big day planned at the end of the season.

Four teams, including Stanway, will feature in a Hundred competition on Saturday 6^th September. There will be two semi-finals and a final, and the rules will be the same as the ECB’s Hundred, although Colwell said there will be no coloured clothing.

Colwell will be there, of course, although he insists he will be just one of many making sure everyone has a fun day.