Pleasure in making new friends close to home

UNABLE these days to travel far, one is limited in meeting people who live any distance away.

Furthermore, I never learned to drive, to my disadvantage. That has also limited the number of people I can regularly meet up with in my latest years.

However, there has been some good from being restricted, also through times of Covid, in being able to meet with people in my own neighbourhood and I have met and come to know several of the nicest people imaginable.

There’s always a cheery wave to be had, a short chat in passing or meeting during walks and comparing lives and interests, and discussing favourite sports like football, rugby and cricket.

This has meant a new, rich collection of friends in my later life.

So I consider myself lucky actually to have come to know folk from all walks of life who share my neighbourhood. My life as a teacher and headmaster and sports lover has always meant that it has been people who are important to me.

As I enjoy writing I am also able to spend a lot of time writing about the sporting activities of Leicester City, Leicester Tigers and Leicestershire County Cricket Club – all teams I was introduced to by my father when I was a young lad at the end of the 1939-45 war and, as we lived in Aylestone Road, close to the three homes of these clubs.

I also have many happy memories playing cricket myself for Leicester Banks, captaining their Second XI.

So you do not need to get fed-up these days or dispirited, with nice people around as well as your family and happy memories to dwell on.

Mike Ross, Wigston