Moreton Pinkney

Saturday 11 August was a rest day but it was arranged that eleven of us would travel to the village of Moreton Pinkney in South Northamptonshire to have lunch at the home of a friend of Harry, one of our team members.

Nigel Kerner, an author who is also involved in the film industry, owns a 50 acre property near the village. As we drove along the driveway to the house we passed flocks of sheep in the fields.

After being offered drinks we were shown a short film of the highlights of the ODI match played on Wednesday. The Men at Work song, Down Under plus the 10CC song, I Don't Like Cricket provided the background music to the well produced summary of the game. Nigel also told us about a medical centre specialising in cataract surgery in central Sri Lanka funded by a trust, the Samamala Foundation, set up largely from the proceeds of a song that he wrote many years ago.The song was They're taking Jesus out of Christmas which Nigel wrote and sang (using the name Bob Gline) with Clare Mance in 1990. They also produced an album of Christmas songs, Feelings at Christmas, in 2008.

Isabel talking to June, Lindsay and Ron

A barbecue lunch, prepared by Nigel's family and friends, was served in the garden.

Wavell and Nigel having a chat

A wide selection of salads and meat was available.

Lunch was in a most attractive garden.

After lunch some of the men attempted skeet shooting while the rest of us retreated to the house as the weather had deteriorated. Five of our players then had a session in the heated pool, demonstrating their skills in throwing a ball from one end of the pool to the other, proving that they are young at heart.

Carmel, a friend of Nigel, was a singer and the afternoon ended with her singing an operatic song. We were then driven back to the hotel after an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon.