Strawberries and Stones

Posted by Peter Davies

Interesting day! Was involved in a workshop session on churches and cricket at All Souls Church, Haley Hill, Halifax at lunchtime - as part of a Church Conservation Trust event on the Victorian era. Then on to Stones where the weather was wild - as normal! In fact I think Stones - high above Ripponden - has its very own eco-system: cold, very cold, blustery, gale-force or permutations thereof. It was the official opening of the new pavilion redevelopment: lots of junior matches going on outside, a meal in the pavilion, and an array of VIP guests and speeches. Guests included club officials and friends, the builders who worked on the development, club sponsors, development officer Steve Archer, league treasurer Bob Airey and many others. A really wonderful occasion.

Over the past few weeks I've had a few comments from the select band of people who read this blog. They've basically said the same thing: Your blog is all very well, Peter, but it seems to be more about food than cricket! I've been a little bit upset by this!!! But I'll keep going!!! Anyway...on to the food. It was spectacular!!! Several lovely meats, salmon, quiche, pasta, mini-pork pies, lots of gorgeous salad accessories, and the rest! For dessert I stuck to strawberries and fruit salad but others involved themselves with a variety of chocolate delicacies, pies and trifles. Sensational!

The three speeches were excellent. Club chairman Peter McDonnell set the scene, explained the context and thanked the key people. He also made a link between the birth of Stones CC in 1884 with the founding of Marks & Spencer and his beloved Tranmere Rovers - in the same year! He was looking very smart in a dapper beige suit and spoke extremely well. League president and Stones treasurer David Normanton was next. It was a very special moment for him - he actually became quite emotional and said that the club's founding fathers in the nineteenth century would have been very proud, and also startled, if they knew how the club had developed. Then Andrew Watson, YCB Director of Development, said that Stones and Calderdale in general were setting a fine example in cricket development. In fact, they were setting the pace! Really impressive stuff - and it put the whole day into perspective.

I had good chats with Matt Jones (1st XI captain) and Graham Mellor - really nice guys and 100% Stones. Our heritage exhibition boards were on display all day as well - great to see! The journey back took me past Barkisland's ground - but surprise, surprise: no play because of the rain!