SOMERSET glory years legend Sir Viv Richards returned to his adopted county for two days last week and received a hero's welcome in Minehead.

He was joined by ex-Aussie fast bowler Rodney Hogg for two cricketing evenings at Mambo's on Minehead seafront and a golf day at Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club.

And it is expected that around £11,000 will have been raised from the three events, all of which will go towards developing junior sport in West Somerset, as well as £1,000 worth of sports equipment being donated to local schools.

Sir Viv is a giant in the history of the game, having been named as one of Wisden's five greatest ever players alongside Jack Hobbs, Gary Sobers, Don Bradman and Shane Warne.

He made his mark in the great West Indian team and never lost a series during his years as captain of the side.

He also played a major role in helping the Cidermen to lift five one-day titles in as many seasons between 1979 and 1983.

On Thursday and Friday evenings, Sir Viv and Rodney Hogg entertained more than 350 cricket fans at their cricketing evenings.

Sir Viv spoke fondly about his years with Somerset and recalled some of his special times with the county, where he arrived as an unknown before proceeding to develop into one of the best batsmen in the world and play some of the best cricket of his career.

Fast bowler Hogg started the evening off and recalled his time in the Australian team, especially when he claimed 41 wickets at 12.85 in the Ashes series of 1978-9!

Hogg described Sir Viv as the best batsman he ever bowled against.

"When you send down your best ball first delivery and he murders it where do you go from there!" he said.

Both evenings were followed by an auction of cricketing memorabilia relating to the two heroes which were very well supported.

Thursday evening was sponsored by i:protectinsurance (http://www.iprotectinsurance.co.uk">www.iprotectinsurance.co.uk), whose joint managing director Nigel Preston was born and brought up in Minehead and played cricket for the town's club for many years, and Friday evening was sponsored by HSBC.

Friday's golf day was sponsored by Butlins and attracted 140 players.

For the 18 holes, for which Sir Viv waived his fee, the great man was partnered by former Somerset favourite Dennis Breakwell, who shared a flat with him man during the glory years.

They were joined for the round by golf club chairman Dennis Compton and Nigel Preston.

Stuart Tudball of MInehead Cricket Club, one of the organisers of the events, said: "The three sporting occasions were a great success and far exceeded our expectations.

"To be able to spend some time in the presence of such a great player as Sir Viv was an honour and a privelege, a feeling that was shared by all of those who attended.

"On behalf of the organisers I would like to thank everyone who supported us in any way at all, the sponsors, the Quay Inn who accomodated Sir Viv and Rodney Hogg free of charge, and everybody who came along and made the events such a success."

Photo: Steve Guscott