Arrangements are well underway for two big charity cricket events to take place in Birmingham this summer.

Celebrities and sports personalities will be out in force next month for the Bill Lloyd Memorial Charity Cricket Day at Bournville Cricket Club on Saturday June 22.

The annual event, which has become a popular part of the cricket calendar in the Second City, will raise cash, as always, for disability cricket in the West Midlands and the Army Benevolent Fund.

Then, on August 25, Handsworth Park will be the venue for the Birmingham Annual Sports and Cultural Day, the centrepiece of which will be the Malcolm Marshall Memorial Match. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham and a host of other personalities will attend.

That two such worthy and excellent charity days have become established in Birmingham is a great tribute to the city and, in particular, to the organisers of the events.

This year the Bill Lloyd Memorial Charity Cricket Day will arrive as part of an eye-catching weekend of cricket in Birmingham with the final of the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for the following day at Warwickshire’s Edgbaston headquarters.

Highlight of the Charity Day will be a 40-over match between the England National Physical Disability XI and the British Army Development Squad while there will be numerours other attractions.

There will be cricket coaching sessions for youngsters as well as the England and Wales Cricket Board Cricket Factory, the ECB 12th Man Hub, an all-girl jazz quartet and a charity auction to take place in front of the pavilion.

Celebrity and VIP guests on the day will include Mike Gatting, in his capacity as England and Wales Cricket Board’s managing director of cricket partnerships, while a good sprinkling of former and current members of both England and Warwickshire’s squads will be in attendance.

The Charity Day is a worthy legacy to Bill Lloyd, a man who lived and breathed cricket.

The Bill Lloyd Memorial Trust was set up in memory of Bill who died from cancer in 2007, aged 64. He began playing in the William Cowper Street School team as a schoolboy and was still playing four weeks before his death.

Bill’s love for the game spanned all levels of it, with grass-roots cricket as high in his affections as any so the fund is aimed very much at helping cricket and cricketers at grass-roots level.

Operations director of the trust, David Lloyd, is confident that a great day is in prospect for all the family, with admission free and the match starting at 1pm.

“We are looking to continue to raise the profile of disability cricket in Birmingham and the West Midlands,” David said, “and also give local people the opportunity to show their support to the people of the British Army who put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis in the service of their country.

“The event will also raise much-needed finance for the good causes involved.”

Anyone wanting information about the day, or wishing to make donations to the charity auction can contact David Lloyd on 07764 378066.

Then, later in the summer, attention will turn to Handsworth and the 14th Birmingham Annual Sports and Cultural Day.

The event, which has former West Indian Test player and batting legend Sir Vivian Richards as its patron, is designed to promote sport and its values at grass-roots level and features a match for the Malcolm Marshall Memorial Cup, in memory of one of the world’s finest fast-bowlers who died from cancer in 1999 at the age of 41.

Last year’s event was a huge success with more than 8,000 people in attendance throughout the day to see Sir Vivian Richards’ X1 take on a PCA XI in which some highly promising young cricketers got the chance to impress alongside some not-so-young stars of former generations, including ex-England Test players Dean Headley, Tim Munton and Alex Tudor.

Sir Viv’s X1 will again this year include some talented young (and, again, not-so-young) players from Handsworth Cavaliers, of which event organiser Sted Wallen is the chairman.

“The main aim of the day is to help build stronger and more tolerant communities, promote social inclusion and race equality in sports,” said Sted. “It also provides much-needed opportunities for young people to meet role models and sporting mentors.”

Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor John Lines, believes the event is great for the city.

“This wonderful event is known for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere,” he said.”And it does so much to promote cricket at grassroots level, developing cricketing talents locally, from around the UK and abroad.”