Memories

Kent v Netherlands - Monday 27 May 2013

Memories

Light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolour memories
Of the way we were

Another warm, sunny day for the much looked forward to annual trip to the Nevill Ground at Tunbridge Wells.

It was really good to go along with Sally Lambourne, her elder son David & his girlfriend Nicky.

The standard of Mrs Lambourne’s picnic was ( as always) : *****.

#JustSaying !!!

 And there was time to say hello to a couple of Tunbridge Wells Borderers Cricket Club chums: Graham Bishopp & Paul Hardwick.

The Nevill is a quintessentially English county ground.

It was E W “Jim” Swanton, formerly the Cricket correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, who wrote that   'it is no mean  contender for the most delectable English cricket ground'. 

 There is the Pavilion, re-built after it was destroyed by an arson attack by suffragettes in April 1913:

And the iconic Marquees on the Tennis Club side of the ground:

As for today’s game, Netherlands scored an impressive 249 for 5 in their 40 overs, with three players making half centuries.

But Kent won with 4 overs to spare, with Rob Key hitting 144 not out.

It’s a long shot, but could England recall him to open against the Aussies?

Of course, for me  trips to the Nevill are always about much more than the actual game on the day.

   It was the ground where Mum & Dad got engaged on that famous day in June 1951 when Young Jim Parks hit the last ball of the day one-bounce through mid wicket into the marquees.
I grew up very near the ground in the 1950's and 60's.

  Can it be almost 55 years since I used to walk past the ground on my way to & from St Marks Primary School ?

  Dad & I often watched both Kent and Tunbridge Wells play there.

In a few weeks’ time I turn 61; the new 19 !!

As I sat looking out across the ground, I remembered what David Bowie said:

As you get older, the questions come down to two:

1. How long?
2. And what do I do with the time I've got left?

I’ll leave You pondering your own Answers  … …

Lord Ric

Sussex v Kent at Horsham – A Surprising Day !!

 Sunday 26 May 2013

Sussex play at Horsham on only one Sunday a year.
Needless to say .... Network Rail had closed the Three Bridges to Horsham  line for scheduled maintenance
     You couldn't make it up !!

My only previous visit to Horsham several years ago was on a gloomy, chilly day.

    So my memories of the ground were suitably dismal.

But on a sunny day and with a big crowd it turned out that the ground is charming.

Having reached 143 for the loss of just 2 wickets Sussex disappointed in only reaching 188 when the 9^th wicket fell. 

But an unbeaten partnership between Jordan & Liddle of 34 saw Sussex reach 222 at the end of their 40 overs.

Kent started brightly, with Stevens scoring 51.

But Sussex stuck to their task and Kent fell from 141 for 3 to 202 all out.

Sussex won by 20 runs.

As always, the cricket was only a part of what was going on.

There was time for some Kindle.

And the Young Couple I sat next to were playing Scrabble on their iPhones !

No quarter asked or given.

Do you love me?

Yes: lots! But don’t even begin to think I’d ever let you win !!!

It was a pleasant walk back to catch the railway replacement bus back to Three Bridges.

There was just time to look into the Fish & Chips shop by the station.

Harry Enfield, who grew up in Horsham, based his character Stavros on the owner of the shop in the 1970’s.

A Surprising Day !!

And so today it is on to Tunbridge Wells for Kent v Netherlands.

The Nevill ground… time for a 1,000 memories.

Did I ever tell of the day that this year’s Sussex President Young Jim Parks hit the last ball of the day for 4 one-bounce through midwicket to score a century and win his County Cap?

The day when … 

Well, come to a game with me soon & I’ll tell you the story (again !!)

Lord Ric 

First game of Season 2013

A lovely sunny day on Friday for my first game of Season 2013.

Sussex v Warwickshire in the LV championship – Day 3. At Hove; Obviously !

A smallish crowd had a very enjoyable day.

Sussex resumed this morning on 129-1, with the in-form Luke Wells unbeaten on 76.

Wells, who scored a maiden double century against Surrey the previous week, then fell four runs short of another century when Rankin yorked him to reduce the hosts to 186-3.

That brought England wicket-keeper Matt Prior to the crease and he soon injected some much needed gusto to help increase the run rate, scoring 42 from 40 balls to help Sussex past 250 before he too was caught behind.

Ben Brown was settling in well at the other end and with Chris Jordan as his new partner, the duo pushed Sussex past the 350 mark and within 100 runs of their opponents, with Brown passing fifty for his third half century in four first class innings this summer.

Brown was 82 not out at the close, while Anyon was unbeaten on 19, with Sussex 416-7 – just 37 runs behind the county champions going into the last day's play.

The draw seemed the most likely outcome with just one day's play remaining.

And so it proved with the final day being rained off !

On Bank Holiday Monday it was back to the ground for a lunch in celebration of Christopher Martin-Jenkins & Tony Greig who both died during the winner.

In the audience were Michael Atherton , Alan Lee & John Woodcock from The Times.

And some well-remembered Sussex cricketers from the 1970's, including John Snow, Peter Graves, John Spencer & Young Jim Parks.

Good speeches from Peter Baxter (former BBC Test Match Special Producer) & especially from John Barclay (former Sussex Captain).

John’s memories of playing for Sussex under Greigy reminded me of playing under Arthur Edwards for Tunbridge Wells Borderers in the 1970’s … but that’s a story for another day !!

Hope to see you at a game SOON !!

Lord Ric