Hi everyone!
For our time is
A very shadow
That passeth away
Wisdom 2.5
As the Calendar edges ever forward into a new decade and daylight
hours in the Northern Hemisphere start to lengthen, what better than to get some dates into your diary for:
Season 2020: Cricket with Ric
Some New Grounds: I’ve got down both Derby & Leicester to visit this year.
A New Form of cricket too: in its first season, The 100.
With some trepidation
- for my Beloved Sussex do not have a team in a competition which is based on
artificial, city-based franchises.
No Men’s 100 games at
Hove, but there will be Women’s matches, including Finals Day in August.
Old Favourites: the big Thursday night T20 games in London at Lords and
the Oval.
And the always looked forward to Annual Trips to Chelmsford and out to
the Wild West, to Taunton.
I’ll be watching the Old Rivals, Kent; both at Beckenham and at The Nevill, Tunbridge Wells.
Sadly, there will not
be a Championship game at The Nevill this year.
But there are three
RL50 one day games.
Home matches: at the Sussex outgrounds – Arundel, Eastbourne & (after
a gap of 5 seasons) Horsham.
Special days at special grounds.
What can I tell you about
Arundel?
When I became a Duke
and a Billionaire, I’ll build a ground like Arundel!
With free ice creams;
obviously!!
And Lots & Lots of days in the sun at Hove.
Watching from the iconic
deckchairs, up at the Cromwell Road end.
From the CanCom verandah; the best office view in world cricket.
There’ll be time – as there always is – for plenty of telling of the Old
Familiar Stories; never in doubt!
Of Days That Are
Never To Be Forgotten.
This Season there are four Decennial
Anniversaries:
In May, a 60th: to commemorate a First.
In June, a 40th: to remember a Last
In December – long
after the season has ended – a 50th: to say Thanks.
We start today with a 100th Anniversary…
For exactly 100 years ago today Isabel Bilsby - my Mum - was born in Rye
on Saturday 10th January 1920. With 3 brothers and 4 sisters, she was the youngest of 8 siblings.
Sister Ivy & Mum - in her 30s
(Ivy made the Best Chocolate Cake in the World; unless you know otherwise)
(Ivy made the Best Chocolate Cake in the World; unless you know otherwise)
Mum died 16 years ago at Easter 2004.
But her Love for me lives on, keeping me warm even on Life’s coldest days.
(OK, Mum did give me some well-deserved b*ll*ck*ings; and perhaps just a few I didn't deserve!)
(OK, Mum did give me some well-deserved b*ll*ck*ings; and perhaps just a few I didn't deserve!)
To mark this Special Anniversary Dianne & I spent today in Rye, a small
town about 50 miles south of London.
Back in Medieval times Rye was a Cinque Port, a confederation formed for
military and trade purposes.
But the days of battles with the French are long gone. Rye’s main
activity these days is Tourism.
Mum was born overlooking the cricket ground.
Two of her brothers played for Rye, where Dad was captain in the years
leading up to WWII.
It was through her oldest brother John (left arm fast bowler) that she met Dad, Fred Piper.
It was through her oldest brother John (left arm fast bowler) that she met Dad, Fred Piper.
Right by the cricket ground, on 7th September 1940 six high
explosive German bombs destroyed the houses numbered 83 to 95, killing all the
residents.
The car park is there now, for the houses have never been re-built.
A footpath separated No.83 from No. 81 where Mum lived.
The gap saved her from certain death.
Mum would often say that every day after that was a Bonus Day, for Life
was to be cherished.
She knew well:
Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final
Go to the Limits of Your Longing by Rainer Marie Rilke
---
Many of you will have your own Memories of Mum…
Perhaps you first knew her back in your own childhood in the ‘50s &
‘60s.
The cups of tea &
chatting in 102 Farmcombe Road.
Mum in her early 50s
Maybe you first knew her in the ‘80s & ‘90s when Mum was a Grandma…
Were you there on that Boxing Day evening at The Squires for the
Christmas Quiz when Mum astounded many with her knowledge & recall?
“That would be Midge Ure, dear!”
I well remember playing cards with Mum.
From childhood, I learnt to always try to be her partner.
For though it seemed that Mum was talking 'nineteen to the dozen' and not really concentrating,
she had a photographic memory – which could recite in order every card each
player had laid.
Not too many people regularly beat Mum at Whist!
Mum in her early 80s
Those Sunday afternoon walks with my cousin Pat, when visiting my
maternal Grandma.
Just as Pat & I always did, Dianne & I paused to look at the
clock on St Mary’s Church.
Begun in 1515, the clock's construction was only completed 45 years later in 1560.
Needing to be wound twice a day, it is the only clock in England, and possibly in the world, with its pendulum swinging through the roof into the body of the church.
I looked - as I have done these last 60+ years – at the text on above the clock.
I looked - as I have done these last 60+ years – at the text on above the clock.
Though Mum would live a full & happy life into her 85th
year, her time - as for all of us – was a shadow that passeth away.
Mum, wherever you are on what would have been your 100th
birthday …
I bet there is a cup
of tea on the go & you are chatting away.
Thank you so much for Everything !!!
All my Love, Richard XXX
PS
As Dianne & I went back to our car, we walked down Landgate.
As we approached The Queen’s Head - opened over 300 years ago in 1706 as The Two Brewers, re-named in 1781 - we
decided to pop in…
Almost 70 years ago, late on in the evening of Friday 22nd June
1951, Fred & Isabel also decided to pop in.
At the Bar a former Rye cricket team mate of Fred’s asked if he was
going to the Cricket on the Saturday, the next day:
Kent v Sussex at The
Nevill, Tunbridge Wells.
Though it was very, very short notice, Fred & Isabel decided to go.
Sussex won the toss and batted.
With the score on 58, Sussex lost their second wicket: John Langridge
out for 25.
Down the pavilion steps came the Sussex No.4, a 19 year old on weekend
leave from doing National Service in the RAF.
Of course, you all know the Story of what happened that day…
(Just in case you don’t, I only tell it about 20 times every Season !!!)
Young Jim Parks going to a 100 off the last ball of the day.
Fred & Isabel getting Engaged).
Young Jim at The Nevill - Saturday 23rd June 1951
Just my Favourite Cricket Story.
And one that goes to show … The Best Decisions are indeed made in the Pub.
And it is never too late - even the night before - to decide to come and
watch the Cricket!!
I really do hope that you’ll come along and watch with me this coming Season.
After
all ….
Why read a Lord Ric Cricket Blog, when you can star in your own.
See you soon!!
Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace
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