Our Patrons and Presidents
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921 - 2021)
HRH The Prince Philip, a big cricket fan, became Patron and Twelfth Man of the Lord’s Taverners in 1950, the same year the charity was founded, and he remained an active Taverner until his passing in 2021. Along with his ongoing support of the charity at fundraising events and playing for the Taverners XI, he was also instrumental in introducing the Lord's Taverners ECB Trophy which is presented annually to the cricket county champions. The trophy was introduced in 1973 with His Royal Highness having recognised that until that time, the champions had never received a physical trophy so he decided to introduce one.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh became Patron of the Lord's Taverners in 2025, during our 75th anniversary year. The Duke, who along with his brother King Charles III has also been a President of the Taverners, is passionate about the positive impact and opportunity offered by sport, and supporting the charity that uses cricket to empower and positively impact the lives of disadvantaged and disabled young people facing the challenges of inequality.
David Gower
David Gower became the 40th Lord's Taverners President in 2020, succeeding Sir Trevor McDonald in the role. Former England cricket captain Gower, who played 117 tests for his country and scored 8,231 runs, has been a long-term supporter of the charity having joined as a member in 1983.
Lord's Taverners Past Presidents
1950 - 1951 - John Mills CBE
1952 - John Snagge OBE
1953 - Martin Boddey
1954 - Jack Hawkins CBE
1955 - Major A Huskisson OBC MC
1956 - Tommy Trinder CBE
1957 - Stephen Mitchell TD
1958 - Sir John Barbirolli
1959 - Sir Ian Jacob GBE CB
1960 - 1961 - HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT
1962 - The Rt Hon Sir Robert Menzies KT CH OC
1963 - Richard Hearne
1964 - John Snagge OBE
1965 - Sir Edward Lewis
1966 - Ronald Waldman
1967 - 1968 - Sir Harry Secombe
1969 - The Rt Hon Lord Luke of Pavenham TD DL JP
1970 - Brian Rix CBE
1971 - Martin Boddey
1972 - Victor Silvester
1973 - Jimmy Edwards DFC MA
1974 - Alfred Gover
1975 - 1976 - HRH The Prince of Wales KG
1977 - 1979 - Eric Morecambe OBE
1980 - 1981 - Sir Harry Secombe CBE
1982 - Ronnie Corbett OBE
1983 - 1984 - Sir Terry Wogan
1985 - 1986 - Sir David Frost
1988 - 1990 - Sir Tim Rice
1991 - 1992 - Leslie Crowther CBE
1993 - 1994 - HRH The Prince Edward CVO
1995 - 1997 - Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge CBE
1998 - 1999 - Nicholas Parsons
2000 - Sir Tim Rice
2001 - 2002 - Robert Powell
2003 - Richard Stilgoe OBE DL
2004 - 2006 - Mike Gatting OBE
2007 - 2008 - Bill Tidy MBE
2009 - 2010 - Chris Tarrant OBE
2011 - 2012 - Barry Norman CBE
2012 - 2015 - Chris Cowdrey
2015 - 2018 - Sir Michael Parkinson
2018 - 2020 - Sir Trevor McDonald
2020 to date - David Gower OBE
Lady Taverners Past Presidents
Founder - Joan Morecambe
President Emeritus - Judith Chalmers OBE
2001 - Rachel Heyhoe Flint OBE DL
2011 - 2016 - Angela Rippon CBE
2016 - 2018 - Lesley Garrett CBE
2018 to 2021 - Debbie McGee