The All-India Pataudi Trophy

Well, another cricket season over and honours about equal. England won the One Day Internationals by a whisker and India saved face (after a ludicrous performance in the World Cup) with a fine victory in the three-match Test series. But did you notice what Rahul Dravid was holding at the Oval when, as winning captain, he was presented with a glamorous award? This was the first outing of the All-India Pataudi Trophy, commissioned by the MCC and designed and made by Jocelyn Burton, one of the London's finest silversmiths. The trophy celebrates the 75th anniversary of the first England v. All-India Test Series in 1932 and MCC has named the trophy after the Pataudi family in recognition of its immense contribution to Anglo-Indian cricket. A former Nawab of Pataudi had the unique distinction of playing Test cricket for both countries, representing England in three matches between 1932 and 1934, and then captaining India in 1946. His son, "Tiger" Pataudi earned 46 caps for India between 1961 and 1975, serving as captain in 40 of these Test matches before continuing his cricket career as an ICC referee. The trophy stands on an ebonised wood base and is 42cm tall and 33.5cm in diameter at the top. It references a pavilion, a cricket ball and a rosewater bowl surrounded by lotus petals. The ball is made from red jasper and the seams are cleverly suggested by fine silver wire stitching. The trophy will accompany the successful India team back home but hopefully we'll see it again in the UK when the tourists return. The designer, Jocelyn Burton, can be reached on 020 7405 3042 or email: jocelynburton@hotmail.com

 
 
 
 

Henley Literary Festival
21-23 September

If you feel that literary events are bit girlie and a waste of time, think again. The inaugural three-day festival at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire has big name speakers and will be thought-provoking and fun. Richard Littlejohn, Boris Johnston, General Sir Mike Jackson, Irving Welsh, James Naughtie, Charlie Higson and Jeremy Paxman are just some of the 100 speakers taking part in 60 different events in eight different locations in the town. The variety is mindboggling. And there are women speakers of course: India Knight, Deborah Moggach, Clarissa Dickson Wright and Anna Pasternak among them. The festival is sponsored by the Cooperative Bank (quite a coup for them), along with the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, and the Henley Standard playing David to the Telegraph Goliath. The Henley Festival is close to London so you can go home at night; you don't have to dress up in dodgy clothes to look cool; and you can get a decent dinner in the town. What could be better? For details visit www.henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk For tickets call 01491 843404 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday only.

 
 
 
 

The Jackdaw

So much tosh is written about the art world that you despair of ever getting a sensible steer on the market. It can seem like a giant conspiracy to rip off the unwary, promote talentless nobodies and ephemeral art that we won't even remember tomorrow, and organise the best parties on a global scale that you won't be invited to. Whoops, does that sound like Brian Sewell? Well actually, there's a huge amount of real talent in the market place and some of the best comment comes from strangely marginal publications where taste and judgment aren't overly influenced by reputation. One of the best is The Jackdaw, produced possibly on David Lee's kitchen table, but worth every penny of the annual £35 subscription. It has well-informed, opinionated writers, a refreshing lack of hero worship, and a great sense of humour. The September issue's lead story advises readers on how to be a successful art thief as well as drawing attention to yet more charges of plagiarism aimed as Britain's most successful artist, Damien Hirst. The Jackdaw's pages serve as a forum for a wide spectrum of writers keen to keep a sense of reality in the mad, mad world of modern art. It's a useful antidote to some of the wild excesses of modern fame. Email dg.lee@virgin.net or visit www.thejackdaw.co.uk

Caption
Wood engraving of the Jackdaw by Ian Stephens