FORMER England and Middlesex bowler Phil ‘The Cat’ Tufnell helped get David Fulton’s benefit season off to a spirited start.

Tufnell was guest speaker at a launch lunch for the ex-Kent captain’s fund-raising summer that attracted almost 400 for an afternoon of cricketing anecdotes.

The event, at the Ramada Hotel and Resort in Hollingbourne, near Maidstone, was compered by former Kent and England skipper and TalkSport commentator Chris Cowdrey.

In a question and answer session that both raised eyebrows and had the majority in fits of laughter, Tufnell conceded that Carl Hooper was the best Kent player he ever bowled to.

But Tufnell admitted his bowling to another West Indies’ legend, Brian Lara, had earned him yet another nickname – that of 'Soup'.

"Why soup? I didn’t get the joke at first but then they told it was because I just kept serving it up on a plate to Brian!" explained Tufnell.

"I served up quite a few runs when he hit his 375 against us in Antigua. I was rather proud really because it was the only world record I’d played a part in."

Fulton is also boosting the coffers of two charities during his benefit season and the Samantha Dickson Research Trust, who raise funds for brain tumour research, together with the Ridge View Special School in Tonbridge and Malling, both benefited on the day.

Another auction item, a day out for 20 at the RAF flight simulator at Brize Norton, helped raise a further £12,000 that will be shared between the chosen charities.

After the event, Fulton said: "I’m pretty much overwhelmed at the fantastic support the day received and I can’t really thank people enough."

The next event on Fulton’s benefit diary is a Valentine’s Ball at the Broome Park Country Club at Barham, near Canterbury, on Saturday, February 11.

Further details and tickets are available from Sam David at the benefit office on 01227 472166.