KENT spin bowler Min Patel enjoyed a resounding start to his benefit year with a sell-out launch lunch at Hollingbourne (Mark Pennell writes).

Almost 350 attended the event that started with a minute’s silence for Patel’s former team-mate and fellow spinner, Richard Davis, who died in December at the age of 37.

Kent’s president for the 2004 season, Brian Luckhurst, said grace and Mike Bax conducted an auction of sporting memorabilia that raised £10,000.

The day’s top price of £2,000 was paid for the right to be Kent’s 12th man for the day against the West Indies on June 21.

The lunch concluded with speeches from former Kent and England skipper Chris Cowdrey and Scouse comic and staunch Evertonian Sean Styles.

Patel’s next fund-raiser is a ladies' night event featuring a Tom Jones tribute act and a three-course meal to be held at Belmont Golf Club in Faversham on Friday, February 27.

Tickets at £28 a head are available from the Min Patel Benefit Office, 6 Doubleday Drive, Bapchild, Kent, ME9 9PJ or by ringing Carol Buck on 01795 422165.