Celebrating-100-Years-of-Pooh-in-Westminster-Cricket-match

22 May 2026

The first of a series of events to celebrate the 100th birthday of Westminster's most-noted ursine alumnus saw an Authors' XI take to the crease against the School

Founded in 1891 and with a long history of playing on Vincent Square, The Authors’ XI, one of the world’s oldest wandering cricket teams, were first to field in the special fixture to celebrate Winnie-the-Pooh and his author, A A Milne, in May.

The visitors’ line-up included historian and podcaster Tom Holland, writer on maths Rob Eastaway, Christian historian Matt Knell, and entertainment journalist and ghost writer, Ben Falk. Sports journalist Jonathan Wilson stood as umpire.

In the 30-over match, a Westminster XI of pupils and staff put on 158-6, with the authors all-out for 128 in reply, a 30-run victory for the School.

Westminster’s Director of Sport, James Kershen OW, top-scored with 63, ably supported by pupils Akshay (Fifth Form, HH) (24), Akhil (Lower Shell, DD) (24) and Idhant (Lower Shell, PP) (20), as Rob Eastaway bowled an excellent spell of 2-17 off six.

In the second innings, Matt Knell and Ben Falk hit 37 and 27 respectively, as the Authors did their best to hold on against Faraz (Lower Shell, MM) (4-22 off 6), and the wily left-arm spin of Teacher of Classics, Joseph Ireland (3-20).

The Authors' bowler has just bowled and players are moving, the pavilion is in the background with onlookers and behind it tall green trees - the grass is bright green

Pupils in cricket whites and Westminster sports clothes in a line on the bright green grass with a line of trees in the background, they are listening to someone speaking

A bowler for The Authors has just bowled and has one leg up wit his arm in front, the ball is flying though the air and there are tree lined up in the distance

Tom Holland has his arm around Matt Thacker and they are looking at something on a phone together smiling, behind them is the Pavilion

An Author is about to bat, he is wearing a green-and-white top and is in front of the wicket - you can see the score board to the right and a fielder on the left with redbrick building and trees behind them

Two men in straw hats sat chatting on a bench under the pavilion canape

Two batters running in opposite directions a fielder in the distance between them running for the ball - there is a football goal behind him

The Graoundskeeper in a grey t-shirt and Westminster cap driving his green open-top vehicle towards the camera smiling - the green grass can be seen and behind him are redbrick buildings and trees

A batsman has just hit the ball and is running, the ball is to the left where he is running and a fielder in a red cap is ready to catch it

Two men in cricket whites, one in a cap nearer the camera talking to the female archivist who is wearing a light blue linen shirt, there are lots of publications open on the table between them and there is an aqua green internal wooden door open behind them

A lady in casual wear talking to an author in whites in front of the tea table, there is a man pouring tea to the right and behind are more cricketers talking near some aqua green internal wooden doors above which are lists on name engraved in gold on black painted wooden boards

A fox lying across the top of a slate roof with a big brick wall in the distance behind him

A A Milne was a Queen’s Scholar at Westminster from 1893-1900 and latterly considered a talented fielder in the Authors’ team. The 2026 match was organised in honour of his Silly ‘Ol Bear’s 100th birthday, and included a match tea of sandwiches and honey cakes, and an Archives pop-up giving a potted history of his time at Westminster, noting his aptitude for both literature and mathematics, and displaying a photograph of Milne whilst at School and a rare example of a first American edition of Winnie-the Pooh which Milne presented to his school house, College’s library in 1926.

Milne generously left Westminster a share of royalties from Pooh. One of our 11 houses is named after him: Milne’s was founded in 1997, almost 100 years after its namesake left the school. Today Pooh serves as our Milnites’ guiding metaphor, representing warmth, generosity, and the pursuit of happiness. Find out more about the School’s house system.

More centenary festivities are planned at Westminster Under School and Westminster School later in 2026 and into 2027, to commemorate Milne, his literary legacy, and of course his much-loved Pooh Bear.