Cricket man Solly’s delight at royal visit

Solly Adam, from Savile Town in Dewsbury, was stunned after he received an invitation to have tea at the Palace off the back of a mystery recommendation from an anonymous friend.

Solly and his wife Maryan enjoyed his brush with royalty at the Palace last Wednesday.

The father of four has had an intriguing life since moving to Dewsbury from India with his parents as a child in 1963. Until now, his great claim to fame was hosting cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar at his family home after he brokered the deal to make him Yorkshire’s first ever overseas player in 1992. But Solly now reckons this latest meet and greet tops the lot.

He said: “It was unbelievable for me to meet the Queen. “It was such a great, great honour.

“The day I came to this country with my parents I said that Yorkshire is my country and Dewsbury is my home. I am proud to live in England and I’ve always supported them at cricket.

“I’ve met some of the greatest cricketers in the world - Sachin Tendulkar, Ian Botham and Gary Sobers but the Queen is an icon all around the world and this is the icing on the cake for me.

One time mechanic Solly still runs his own sports shop, Solly Sports on Savile Road.