The penultimate day of my grand tour, Sunday 19th July, was possibly the best, certainly the best weather and in my humble opinion probably the most attractive cricket ground I have ever visited. There are so many it is a very difficult decision to make but this one has a special appeal all it's own.
Beautiful Brockhampton
I first visited the Park at Brockhampton in Herefordshire on the 14th July 1996 again on the penultimate day of a ten day tour of Wales, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Herefordshire. Hereford were playing Wiltshire and won by one wicket on day two. I can't really remember much about the game but the beautiful tree lined ground, the modest pavilion with flower baskets, the friendliness of the Hereford officials and the brisk pace of the game all contributed to a real feeling of well being. A few years later I was delighted to be at Lord's when Hereford won the Minor Counties Knock Out and have remained a member of the county ever since.
Brockhampton
This has been a regular port of call whenever possible over the years and it still remains this wonderful island of peace and tranquility, down a narrow lane not far from the River Wye, between Ross and Hereford. A new addition for me was the presence of a junior ground adjacent to the car park and a bonus in the shape of a junior tournament going on all day.
The Minor Counties game was between Hereford and Oxfordshire and the visitors, who I had seen in action in the T20 finals at Banbury, were batting first. Nothing spectacular but 50 apiece from Kaufman and skipper Ryan ensured a respectable total of 271 despite some good spin bowling notably from Jehangir who took 5-94. During the next two days after my departure the young Oxford side, with four teenagers in the ranks, pulled off a comfortable victory.
Star of the show in their second innings was a 15 year old, Harrison Ward who made 109 not out. His 50 year old Dad came on as sub after Kaufman broke a finger while Hereford chased an unlikely target of 354. Oxford winning in the end by 133 runs. Improvements have been made over the years to the pavilion and bar, but everything fits in and the magic is still there.
Rural Brockhampton
Sadly the long serving county secretary, Peter Skyes a Yorkshiremen, died last year and it was good to meet his successor Ken Sharpe who wanted to know if I was a holiday maker who had e-mailed him for directions. He was rather surprised to learn that it was not me and that I had been a regular visitor for so many years. So yet another wonderful day sitting in the sunshine and I hope that the photographs do it justice.
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