John Winn's recent blog reminding us of the events of April, 2010, as well as the origins of this blog, set me off on the nostalgia trial once more. In particular I looked at a memorable day out on Saturday 24th April 2010. The cricket ground at Lancaster Royal Grammar School had long been on my wanted list and with the help of my Lancaster based cricket watching friend Ian Cockerill, I was able to plan not only a visit there, but a detailed tour of league grounds in the Lancaster and Morecambe area.
The School ground has wonderful views right across Morecambe Bay to the distant Lakeland fells and is almost overshadowed by the wonderful Ashton Memorial in nearby Williamson Park, which is a landmark you always spot when driving down the M6 motorway. I was able to take a few nice pictures of the game between Lancaster R.G.S. and Woodhouse Grove school from Apperley Bridge before moving on.
I had visited Lancaster cricket club many years previously when my uncle, Geoff Stones, was professional there and a few years later saw Bill Alley make a whirlwind century for Blackpool before he went on to play for Somerset. The object here was to get a picture of the ground with the Castle and the Church on the hillside.
After that I was able to visit a series of new grounds, for me, with no less than three clubs situated almost side by side on the outskirts of Lancaster. This was followed be clubs in Morecambe and Heysham before re-visiting an old holiday haunt of mine at Bolton-le-Sands.
The final call on the way home, after a most interesting and rewarding day, was at the village of Caton in the Lune valley. Nothing very spectacular apart from the wind farm on the distant skyline.
The sun shone all day and this was the sort of day I used to do quite often during my younger days, which contributed greatly to the various books that John has mentioned. Not really a day for watching much cricket but enjoying the sights and sounds of many varied grounds, all very different and meeting the enthusiastic locals who keep clubs like this going through thick and thin.
Very hard to realise that this all happened ten years ago, as the memories are still so clear cut. We can only hope that such days will return eventually in the not too distant future.
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