Well known musician Stan Seymour has produced two paintings to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Cup Match - one of which has been donated to Somerset Cricket Club and the other to the family of the man who scored the first century in Cup Match.

The painting that has become the property of Somerset Cricket Club is of the first Cup Match in 1902, played at the Royal Naval Field.

"I worked along with Warrington (Soup) Zuill, the historian, on some of the details as far as dress code for the cricketers and the way the field probably looked at that time," explained Mr. Seymour who took a few weeks to complete each painting.

"In those days the cricketers wore black belts and black socks and floppy hats."

The 36x18 inch painting was presented to Somerset Cricket Club on Tuesday night by Mr. Zuill on Mr. Seymour's behalf (he had to work), and is intended to mark 100 years since the Royal Naval Field hosted its first Cup Match. This is also the 100th anniversary of Somerset Cricket Club.

Mr. Seymour attended Cup Match at Royal Naval Field in later years and can remember how the ground would have looked on Cup Match day, with the fans watching from the southern bank. He can identify with the second painting, which shows fans standing outside the Phoenix Store at the junction of Queen and Reid Streets in the 1930s, waiting patiently for updated Cup Match scores to be posted.

The painting, 22x28 inches, shows Edward (Bosun) Swainson's score of 122, the first century in Cup Match in 1937.

"That's going to be presented to a member of the Swainson family, Neville Swainson, who is the nephew of Bosun," explained Mr. Seymour last week. That painting was also presented on Tuesday.

"He (Neville) is a close friend of mine, so it means something to present it to him. I remember seeing Bosun Swainson play, with his fancy pads, but the first year I went to Cup Match at Royal Naval Field, I think he was already finished."

Standing outside the Phoenix during Cup Match is something the artist remembers doing as a small boy. In those days there was no 'Voice of Summer' who boasts of "bringing it to you as it happens" via radio, and those living in the central parishes did not have the means to get to either Somerset or St. George's.

"I did experience going to Phoenix corner at age 13 or 14, watching the score and enjoying the excitement of it as they changed the scoreboard," said Mr. Seymour, who grew up on Ewing Street in Hamilton.

"A lot of people couldn't afford to go to Cup Match, they didn't have the money to catch the train, so they would stand up on Phoenix corner all day. And it was exciting!

"You could imagine when they put the score up, guys would get excited and say 'I know he's out'. People would place bets on who just got out. They updated it every time somebody got out or at every ten runs."

Phones were not in many homes in the 1930s, but information coming from the grounds was fast and reliable.

The Phoenix painting was created from an old photograph and from the artist's memory.

"I played cricket with my brother and he said he was (Alma) 'Champ' Hunt and I said I was 'Bosun' Swainson so I was automatically St. George's," he stated.

"I played a lot of cricket for Social Club and Warwick Workmen's and had the privilege of playing against 'Champ' Hunt, Arthur Simons, (Alec) 'Cocky' Steede and Carlton Welch. As a matter of fact, 'Champ' and I were very close friends.

"He always used to joke with me about the first game I played against Somerset when I scored 67. I was outside of my crease when 'Champ' threw a ball back to knock the wickets down and I stopped it with my bat which was obstruction. But the umpire said not out, 'he's just a youngster, he doesn't know the rules'!"

Cup Match crowds are much bigger these days than they were in the early years when probably a few hundred people attended. It still remains the biggest sporting event in Bermuda and young cricketers grow up dreaming of playing in Cup Match, more so than representing their country.

"It's the biggest sporting event that we have," said Mr. Seymour who plans to attend this year's match.

"I don't stay all day, but I still go to the game. It's still very exciting. It's the event of the year, and now we have so many tourists also going.

"It's just a great tradition for the Bermudian people and that's the reason why I feel so pleased to be able to do this (paintings)."

Art runs in the Seymour family, where Mr. Seymour's younger brother Al is also an artist as was their father.