Terry Lee Smith helped everyone get into the Cup Match spirit with a tea party for the older generation.

Politicians from both sides of the island — Lovitta Foggo representing St George’s and Jamahl Simmons for Somerset — were at Somerset Cricket Club for the Tee’L Pre-Cup Match Tea for Seniors.

The event on Monday included a Miss Cup Match fashion show, in which seniors modelled their team colours and explained why they love Cup Match or told the audience about their Cup Match memory.

Gladys Smith, who won the Miss Cup Match crown, said: “It was lovely. I enjoyed it.”

It was all played out in an appropriately decorated Cup Match venue, with the Clyde “Bunny” Best and Alma “Champ” Hunt Trophy Room in club colours.

Mr Best, who played in Cup Match as a 15-year-old for Somerset before embarking on his trailblazing football career, was among the guests.

“I think it’s great. When you look at the turnout, it’s incredible,” he said.

“We need to give the elderly people the best we can. We need to be doing more events like these. It’s good for the community.”

Ms Foggo, the newly appointed Minister of Government Reform, said: “As a government, we believe it is important that we spend more time thinking about our history — a history that involved your efforts to make this island as great as it is.

“We think it is important to put our seniors first. Any responsible government safeguards the quality of life for its senior population, reflecting the value we place on them as citizens. We believe there is more we can do, more society should do, to celebrate and help our seniors.”

Wanda Ray Willis-Raynor, a singer and actress, performed a few songs and Sharon “Ducy” Burrows, who dedicates much of her time to seniors, danced for the guests.

Ms Willis-Raynor, whose father Eldon Raynor was a Cup Match star for St George’s, said: “I really believe that this is an event that should take place each year. Cup Match represents a lot of their history. It’s refreshing to see them happy.”

Somerset players Alje Richardson and Greg Maybury were in attendance, with Mr Richardson saying: “Everyone’s nice. It’s nice to see all our supporters.”

Mr Smith said: “With the historical and cultural importance of the holiday, it gives us great pleasure to celebrate and serve those who have given so much to our community.”