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Rogerstone volunteer Derek awarded BEM in King’s Birthday Honours

It was with great delight that Sporting Memories received the news that Rogerstone Club volunteer Derek Picken had been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list. 

Derek, 86, has been recognised for his services to cricket, with his incredible efforts at Rogerstone Welfare Cricket Club spanning over 50 years, as a player, coach, historian and treasurer amongst a range of local roles in the community as well.

Derek has also been involved with the Sporting Memories Club based at the cricket club for the past five years, and we started our conversation with Derek about how he got involved with us.

“I’ve done a lot of work on the history of the cricket club, and the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket, as I understand the only dedicated cricket museum in the country, got in touch with me about sharing some of the information on Rogerstone I have collected over the years.

“Arising from that, one of the staff museum’s staff was Tony Davies, the son of Haydn Davies - a famous Welsh wicket-keeper, who got in touch with me to ask whether the club would be suitable to host a Sporting Memories session. I said yes I think it would and we’ve been going for around five years now.”

Derek has been involved since the start of the Sporting Memories Club, when it was first led by Stephen Hedges, the son of Glamorgan cricket legend Bernard, helping out those who come along as members and the club facilitators with the weekly session. Derek provided some further insight into the sessions and what they mean to him.

“I’ve enjoyed being part of the group, but I also like to help out in the local community in any way I can, whether it be Sporting Memories or the cricket club. I have a wife who’s very tolerant of what I do - She’s a great support to me!

“We have about seven or eight members at the moment and it’s a good group, but we’re always happy to welcome new people in from Rogerstone who want to join us every Thursday afternoon for a chat and a laugh. People come for a range of reasons, whether it’s health-related such as living with dementia, or those who have lost their partners and are looking for a bit of friendship and company – it’s a wide-ranging group and we welcome everyone who comes along.

“I’d say for everyone to come and give Sporting Memories a try. It’s for all older people really and we also welcome those who are younger too and perhaps looking for a community group to join too.”

Speaking to Derek for the Sporting Memories website, it was clear that he is very proud of being acknowledged through his recent award by His Majesty The King and he hoped that it would encourage more people to get involved with the cricket club and Sporting Memories.

“It’s very emotional to be recognised in this way. It’s also very satisfying for the time and effort I have given to the cricket club and the local community over the years. I do it because I love it, and that is the truth.

“I’ve played a lot of cricket in my time and I’ve always been involved (with Rogerstone Welfare Cricket Club) in some way from my twenties, from playing to eventually becoming treasurer, so it means a great deal to be acknowledged but to also bring a spotlight to what is a great cricket club, and our Sporting Memories Club too.”

The Rogerstone Sporting Memories Club runs every Thursday from 2pm to 3:30pm at the Rogerstone Welfare Cricket Pavillion. To find out more about the Club and join their next session, contact Rob via rob.baker@sportingmemories.uk