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