From your correspondent; the Pavilion at Lord's

Time erases the details of our lives in favour of something larger. 
                                                                                  Philip Larkin 
Hi everyone !


50 years after my first visit to Lords - for MCC v Australia on Saturday  27 May 1961  - I have finally got to watch from the Pavilion.

Middlesex v Sussex in the CB40. And Sussex members are allowed to sit on the Pavilion !!

I have loved watching cricket all my life.
    Of course for the Cricket itself, but especially for the time spent with Friends.


On this special occasion it was a very real privilege to be joined by Bob Ayres, a MCC member for 30 years, who was able to show me round the Pavilion.
   Thank you so much, Bob !

As I sat on one of the iconic white benches in front of the Pavilion there were so many memories of previous visits to Lord's.


From my first visit 50 summers ago, watching with Dad from high up in the Warner Stand.

Bill Lawry and Norman O'Neill both scoring centuries.
And Young Jim Parks keeping wicket .... did I ever tell you about the day I watched cricket with Jim !!!


Seeing Sussex beat Warwickshire in the 2nd ever Gillette Cup Final in 1964.
And Kent beating Somerset in 1967.
And Lancashire beating Kent in 1971. Jack Bond taking a brilliant catch at deep mid off in the evening gloom to get Asif Iqbal out for 89.


Watching England v India from the Nursery End on my birthday in 1974 with Pete and Peter Williams.
  Centuries from Amiss, Denness & Tony Grieg in England's 629.


And Australia beating Pakistan in the World Cup final in 1999.
  4 wickets for Shane Warne, Pakistan all out for 132. Australia won by 8 wickets.


In 2003 attending Anthony Cuming's retirement party in the Media Centre.
  And after "Sir" Geoffrey, it will be  "Lord" Ric to sum up the last 50 years.
  Well, Aggers  I've loved cricket, but I've always known that "What do they know of Cricket, who only Cricket know ?"
  Best bowler: Shane Warne.
  Best batsman: Must be a Richards, but I couldn't decide between Barry & Viv. 
           ( Of course, I never saw the Don play .... )
  Best captain : Lord Ted  .. naturally !!
  Favourite player : Young Jim ... never in doubt !!!
  Best player I have played with : Dave Green


And Australia winning again.
This time in the First Test v England in 2005. Australia won by 239 runs.
As I trudged up Wellington Road to St John's Wood Tube station I thought the series was likely to be 5-0 to the Aussies, with England lucky to score nil.
Little did I know that 2005 would be one of the greatest Ashes series ever.


And then in 2009 watching from the Mound Stand with his Family as Rory Cox top scored for Eton against Harrow.
His Dad not daring to watch, not able to miss a single ball
And Rory hitting a Big Six  - surely it landed in St John's Wood Road !!
Cox for England the crowd cried; and they were right to.


As my favourite journalist, Simon Barnes, wrote:
"In sport, and more or less only in sport, we can cast our eyes once again over the sepia-tinted heroscape of lost youth."


What can I tell you of the game ?
  Sussex      239 - 5
  Middlesex 240 -3 


But despite a third defeat in a row in the CB40, Sussex secured their place in the semi-finals.
   Come on you Sharks !!


Will it be back to Lords on Saturday 17 September ... I hope so !!
    Mike Yardy lifting the Cup, just as Lord Ted did all those years ago.


Lord Ric


PS 
  And in answer to your question : the Pork Pie tasted wonderful ! Best ever.

Sussex v Kent in the CB40

Hi everyone !


A damp evening at Hove on Tuesday for Sussex v Kent in the CB40.


It was very good to be joined by Steve Tinton & two first time guests in Rachel McKenzie & Nigel Lynn.


With the Seagulls playing - & beating - Sunderland at the Amex Stadium,Brighton and after a very wet day there was only a thin crowd at the County Ground.

Sussex were cruising towards their target of 217 at 76 without loss after 10 overs, before they lost four wickets for seven runs in three overs.

They  missed the chance to qualify for the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 at Hove when they were beaten by Kent by 14 runs.

A win would have taken Sussex through to the last four;  but now they will have to avoid defeat to Middlesex at Lord's on Monday to make sure. 

Subject to the Good Mrs Piper's Bank Holiday Action List & the weather on the day I plan to be at Lord's on Monday .. perhaps you can join me ??

Lord Ric 

1000's on the streets; big police presence

Hi everyone !

It was 11.30 & I was on the corner of North Street & West Street in Brighton.

There were 1000's on the streets & a big police presence - dare  I say they had Come Out to show their support:

It was the Brighton Pride Parade.

Only on Brighton would you get the Conservative Party with their LGBT Tory poster:

LGBT: lgbt.co.uk

There was the Oldest Gay in the Village:

Smartly dressed in a blazer & tie !!



It's been a dreadful week for the reputation of Britain around the world.

But in Brighton on Saturday morning at 11.30 .. a couple of steps were taken in the right direction.

Lord Ric