May 15, 2024
With an abundance of sunshine and scant clouds, the bike ride this afternoon started from Burgess Hill and followed through villages of Hickstead, Sayers Common and Albourne with a return trip in opposite direction. Notable sightings along the way included the Duke of York pub in Sayers Common and Hickstead Jumping Course which hosts an all England Show Jumping event every year between June and July. The village of Albourne has added new construction since I last lived there (1989) and a number of new homes have popped up just like daffodils do in early Spring.
On the way back to Burgess Hill, I passed by the grounds of St Andrews Cricket Club for whom I played back in the late 70s and early 80s. On a whim, I decided to visit the grounds to take some pictures. The old pavilion (shed) is no longer there but instead there is a new pavilion on the other side of the ground. A walk closer to the wickets conjured up many memories of the distant past - toiling away bowling in the afternoon sunshine, getting unsolicited advise from the experienced cricketers and listening to great stories from other cricketers.
As I started to turn back, I heard gates being closed and locked at the pavilion and saw a gentleman coming out. As it had been over 40+ years since I last played here, I could not recongnise him immediately. With a brief conversation, I was speaking to Peter Goodwin with whom I played many cricket matches. It was wonderful to reminisce with Peter and to catch up on some of the other cricketers who played with us. With the passage of time, it was sad to hear that some of them are no longer with us.
Cheers!
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