Pipe Makers Trophy at Arundel Castle Cricket Club
To the stunning Arundel Castle Cricket Ground to watch teams of Under 15 cricketers representing South London and North London contest the Pipe Makers Trophy in a 40 Over Match. The setting, as fellow Liveryman Neil Withington observed, was worthy of an Olympic Opening Ceremony and the game itself was keenly fought too.
South chose to bat and, assisted mightily by a score of 115 by Charlie Neve, reached 281 for 9, a total which had the Wisdens of Arundel, Johnny Barclay and Alan Wadey, muttering about possible records. North London had their moments but probably had to take too many risks in chasing such a huge target and were all out for 193. In an entirely appropriate sporting gesture, they were then allowed to deploy their twelfth man, who was able to take the score to over 200.
I presented medals to both teams and Johnny Barclay kindly produced a beautiful bat for the man of the match, Charlie Neve. The Pimms prevented me from recording whether he was the batsman responsible for the prize dent in the bonnet of Past Master Roger Merton's car.