A shame to say bye to the cricket tea
IALWAYS think that this time of year should be for tidings of joy and happiness. This pandemic has not helped, but with the developing news of a vaccine, it is great that we do have some good cheer to come.
Advancing years do not help, but my mind does dwell on the pleasure I gained buying presents for our children, and putting up the decorations with them.
Somehow this festive season has brought some sadness besides the lockdown issues. The first disappointment for me was when I read of the fact that the Derbyshire Stamp and Deliver scheme would not be operating this year. I first came across this service when we arrived here in 1989 from our long time homes in Hertfordshire. Nothing like the stamp and deliver existed in our home county and although to start with we had few cards that could benefit, the number soon was above half of the cards we sent.
It provided a substantial benefit to the Scout groups in Derbyshire, and aided other charities as well.
I was first involved with the Scout movement in the Cubs and thereafter all the way up my Scout group to become a Queen’s Scout before taking on a Scout leader role for a while.
We needed funds as well and the chosen route was the ubiquitous jumble sales, of which we ran two a year. Although they were hard work, at least that was only a week for each sale.
Progressively I appreciated the stamp and deliver service as we got older. It is not practical now to hand deliver the local cards, so the post office will have to take the increased strain.
For many, Christmas cards are going to prove a luxury expense this year. We are planning a low-key festive season, so we should be fine.
What I have only just realised is that no stamp and deliver this year is not only for this year of the pandemic, it is the end of this service for ever. Given it has grown massively to the point where it takes some 50 sorters to get the deliveries set up, it is no surprise that this superb service is now to end. When you know you will miss something it usually means it was a good and valued service.
Sadly this is possibly not going to be the only activity that will come to an unexpected end. I read last week of a southern county that is planning to cease providing the traditional tea during the midpoint of club cricket matches.
My first experience of this treat was as a 15-year-old when I got into the school cricket first XI. The games were played against other schools and were pretty intense… but the school cook always came in to provide the traditional tea.
This important tea break I have continued to enjoy throughout my playing days and then during my 25 years in the umpire’s coat that followed. As a player one had to pay for the tea… as an umpire it was a free perk of the job.
In the southern counties the tea interval is but a 20-minute break, but in Derbyshire it is a 30-minute mini feast!
The umpires of course will not suffer too much as the rules of the leagues include for an increased fee if a tea is not provided. However, seeing the players and umpires arrive with a flask and sandwich box is somehow not the same.
So far this is hopefully just one southern county planning to break the tradition, but what one can do, others may follow.
I am now a retired armchair fan – will there be any more shocks to my system before the year ends or will my well-ordered life be allowed to return to the more gentle progress I am used to?