Oxford

Oxford is a city that we were able to visit for a short time when the team was playing Oxfordshire. The car was parked in Magdalene Street, near Broad Street and Broad Street was the main area that we were able to explore.

Bicycles are a major means of transport in this university city.

There is a wide variety of architecture to be seen on Broad Street.

The Sheldonian Theatre is next to the Museum for History of Science. Commencement of the building the theatre began in 1664. It was designed by Christopher Wren.

The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and is part of Oxford University. A number of buildings form this library including a building specifically for undergrads.

There are a number of university colleges in Broad Street, all with interesting architecture.

Wherever you look there are interesting archaeological features and skylines.

A stone set in the wall of Balliol College provides information about the three martyrs burned to death in the ditch outside the city walls in 1556.

The Martyrs' Memorial is located near the corner of Magdalene and Broad streets.

Cirencester

On our rest day on 16 June a group visited Cirencester, a short distance from Cheltenham. Cirencester was the second largest Roman town in Britain.

The main purpose of the visit was to visit the Corinium Museum which has displays depicting life in the area from prehistoric times to the Civil War.

Displays include sections of mosaic floors

sections of painted plaster and

remains of marble columns.

There is a replica of a Roman garden where you can sit and contemplate.

We then visited the Church of St John the Baptist. This impressive church was built more than 1000 years ago. One of the guides gave us a tour of the building and then suggested that we go out through the side door to the gardens where the remains of a Roman wall could be located.

Outside the church is a market cross signifying the importance of the town as a market town during the wool boom.

Cirencester was well worth visiting.

Game 9 - against Buckinghamshire at Beaconsfield

When we set out for the long drive from Cheltenham to Beaconsfield we did not realise how long the trip would take. We were driving along the A40 when the traffic came to a complete stop for more than an hour. The English are apparently used to this and we all got out of our cars and had a chat. The people in several cars behind us were going to Royal Ascot and making note of the races they were missing. Another couple were meeting their son for lunch.

Ian and Greg spent some of the time playing virtual cricket. Eventually the roads were reopened and we continued on our way. Needless to say the Australian contingent all arrived late and the game was shortened to 40 overs per innings.

The club was founded in 1825.

Australia won the toss and batted on a good wicket and were 4 for 235 at the end of the innings. Ian Petherick and David Cordy both retired with 51 runs. Murray Harrison scored 47 runs.

Australia then bowled and Buckinghamshire made 6 for 205 in its innings. Robin bowled 8 overs, 1 maiden and took 2 wickets for 37 runs. He also took a catch. Brian Scott also bowled 8 overs and took 1 wicket for 32 runs. Bowling in tandem, these two players once again kept the run rate down.

The players from both teams once again posed for photographs.

During the game I went for a walk in Beaconsfield.

Once again there was a variety of architectural styles.

Australia had now won 8 of their first 9 games.

Game 8 against Berkshire at Henley

The long drive to Henley on Thames was well worth it when we arrived at the picturesque Henley Cricket Club.

Henley Cricket Club was founded in 1869 as a club for gentlemen. Another club was formed in 1886 for the working man. Both clubs disbanded during World War I but reformed as the Henley Cricket Club in 1931. The new club rooms were opened in 2010.

The grounds belong to the club and each year, during the Henley Regatta, they are used, with the exception of the pitch, for car parking. This is a major fundraiser for the club.

Berkshire batted first and at 43 overs were all out for 138 runs. Brian Scott bowled 9 overs resulting in 2 for 31 runs, Robin bowled 3 overs getting 3 wickets for 15 while James Martin bowled 7 overs getting 2 wickets for 16 runs. The team bowled and fielded well taking 6 catches and there was also a run out.

In the 31st over Australia got the 133 runs required for the loss of one wicket. James Martin 52 and John Dedman 50 both retired. Greg Johnson scored the winning run on his birthday.

After the match a photograph was taken of the two teams with the dog who had spent the day watching the match.

A birthday cake was present to Greg for his birthday.

Henley is a very pretty town on the River Thames and we spent some time exploring.

Next door to the cricket ground are the Greencroft Allotments where members of the community grow vegetable or flower gardens.

The day we visited Henley rowing trials were taking place so it was very busy.

Crossing the bridge and looking in one direction you could see some of the boats preparing.

However we walked in the opposite direction to the loch and the weir

after eating lunch at the hotel.

There were many boats moored along the river including the Midsomer Maiden.

The weir includes fish ladders on either side.

We watched a number of boats navigate the loch.

Swans, ducks and geese swam happily on the river, including this mother carrying a baby on her back.

It was another great day.

Cheltenham

On 12 June we left Yeoville for Cheltenham and arrived at the Cotswold Grange Hotel where we were to spend the next week.

The hotel was built in the 1830s and we had a room on the second floor with a view looking over the neighbouring houses to the nearby hills.

Cheltenham was one of the places to live or to visit, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. This is reflected in much of the architecture of the city.

Royal Crescent

There are also rows of smaller terraces in many of the streets.

Cheltenham was renowned for its spas. The Pittville Pump Room was a major attraction in the nineteenth century being built in the 1820s as part of Joseph Pitt's plan for an impressive housing development known as Pittville. The pump rooms are located at the top of Pittville Park.

The buildings are now used for weddings and other functions.

Many of the grand houses in what is now known as Pittville were part of the estate planned by Joseph Pitt. Pitt became bankrupt before the project was completed but his name and legacy continue in Pittville.

The Montpellier Rotunda, now a branch of Lloyds Bank, was also a pump room in the nineteenth century.

There are many impressive gardens in Cheltenham including the Imperial Gardens.

The composer, Gustav Holst, was born in Cheltenham and there is a statue of him in the Imperial Gardens. There is also a Gustav Holst Museum.

There are colourful displays of flowers throughout the city.

Central Cheltenham is a good place to walk through and explore.