MCC restores Lord's Pavilion to pristine condition: re-opening ceremony today

Date released: 8 April 2005

The world-famous Pavilion at Lord's has been restored to pristine condition after an £8 million, seven-month refurbishment project. The historic building will be re-opened today, before the start of the opening first-class match of the season - MCC v Champion County (Warwickshire).

The re-opening ceremony will involve Tom Graveney (MCC's President), the former England batsman, and Alastair Cook - the 20 year-old England 'A' batsman who will be playing for MCC in this fixture.

Commenting on the refurbishment work, Tom Graveney said: "I'm delighted that MCC has restored the Pavilion - one of the most famous buildings in world sport - to pristine condition. It has taken seven months and around £8 million, but I believe that our investment - of time and money - has been well worthwhile. I first played here more than half a century ago and, quite simply, I've never seen the Pavilion looking better. For decades to come, spectators, officials and players - like Alastair - will benefit enormously from the improvements which this great project has brought about. I congratulate everyone concerned in improving the Pavilion in such a spectacularly successful way."

Alastair Cook said: "It was always my dream to play at Lord's. I did so for the first time last year, and I'm delighted to be playing for MCC against the County Champions again this season. The refurbished Pavilion will make the experience even more memorable."

MCC's Secretary & Chief Executive, Roger Knight, said: "It was an enormous challenge to undertake such a large refurbishment project in such a comparatively short period of time - between the 2004 and 2005 cricket seasons. I'm delighted that it has been completed on time and below budget. I would like to thank everyone responsible for its successful completion. For example, the members of our Estates committee, chaired by Maurice de Rohan, have been enormously supportive. Our contractors, too, were equally impressive: the staff from the main contractor, SAMES, lived up to the company's enviable and hard-earned reputation; the expertise of the project managers, Gardiner & Theobald, was evident throughout; and all the work by Ettwein Bridges, the project architects, was invaluable.

I would also like to congratulate MCC's Deputy Chief Executive, David Batts, for his key role in putting together such a strong team, and for driving forward the work with characteristic energy and commitment. Above all, I would like to thank MCC Members for funding the refurbishment - and so many other ground improvements at Lord's. Indeed, the Pavilion project has taken MCC's spending on ground improvements since the Club's bicentenary, in 1987, past the £50 million-mark. The scale of our investment shows the strength of our commitment to keeping Lord's - the home of cricket - not merely world-famous but truly world-class."

The Chairman of London 2012, Lord Coe, commented that the refurbishment would further strengthen London's Olympic bid: "The Pavilion would provide a unique backdrop for Olympic archery in 2012, and it's fantastic to see this beautiful building restored. Lord's perfectly encapsulates London's mix of past and future - with the historic Pavilion at one end and the futuristic NatWest Media Centre at the other."

The NatWest Media Centre is also being re-opened later today after undergoing its own comprehensive, six-figure refurbishment programme.

Members of the public can see the refurbished Pavilion and NatWest Media Centre for themselves during a Tour of Lord's. (Details are available from the Tours Office on 020 7616 8595 or via tours@mcc.org.uk)