Meeting date: 1 October 2005
Hambledon Club XI v Ancient Mariners XI
The Grand Charity Match, held in celebration on 1st October 2005, of the 200th Anniversary of Admiral Lord Nelson’s great victory at Trafalgar, was played to raise money for Youth Cricket and the RNLI.
The target was £3,000 and we raised a magnificent £1,425 on the day, thanks to everyone’s overwhelming generosity. We look forward to news of the final total at the forthcoming lunch.
The match was played in full costume, with traditional equipment and in the true spirit of the game, at Broadhalfpenny Down, on a beautiful, crisp, blue, if a little windy day. The Laws and dress of 1805 applied.
The programme for the day belies the truly splendid time had by all!
11.00 am Grog
1st Innings
1.30 am Lunch, with goodly quantities of excellent Claret and Port
4.30 am 2nd Innings
6.30 am Dinner
We were all eternally grateful to start the day with our much-needed ration of GROG, ably dispensed by The Rum Bo’sun for the day, Kevin Connor from HMS Victory. We could quite see why he so readily took on the chore, since for every generous tot of GROG he doled out, to the eagerly waiting queue, he partook as well. Suffice it to say it had the desired effect, warming everyone nicely from the inside, even though they were perishing on the outside!
Grace was delivered by Douglas Miller
The Menu, by Dick Orders
Smoked Mackerel
Stuffed Fillet of Sole set on a parsley, lemon & garlic sauce
Roast Beef, served with seasonal vegetables
Berries, Ice cream & Meringue
A selection of English Cheese & Biscuits
Coffee & Mint
The Meeting
The Chairman, Ashley Mote extended a special welcome to our guests, the Ancient Mariners, and was delighted to announce to the assembled company that the match had concluded as an honourable draw, which meant The Hambledon Club remained unbeaten! He went on to explain the history of the club, finishing by saying there is no bar to membership and no other criteria than enthusiasm for the game.
Commander Ronnie Broome, RN Retired, replied on behalf of the visitors, regaling us all with some amusing tales! A copy of his notes has not arrived, but this will help to finish with a suitably naval theme:
A Matelot’s Farewell to his Tot
You soothed my nerves and warmed my limbs
And cheered my dismal heart
Procured my wants, obliged my whims
And now it’s time to part
mid endless Perils of the deep
and miseries untold
you summoned sweet forgetful sleep
cocooned me from the cold.
Some years ago, the “Pound O’ Leaf”
That cast its fragrant smell
About the ship, expired in grief
And sadness of farewell
Though guests might find the pantry bare,
Whenever they chose to come
Your hospitality was always there
A TOT OF PUSSER’S RUM
Two hundred years and more you filled
The storm-tossed sailor’s need
Now you’ve been killed by spite distilled
From jealousy and greed
And petty clerks with scrawny necks
Who never saw a wave
Nor felt the spray nor heaving decks
Consigned you to your grave.
Alas, however, I protest
To save myself from hurt
To tell us that it’s for the best
To keep us all alert
And so the time has come old friend
To take the final sup
Our tears are shed
This is the end
GOODBYE AND BOTTOMS UP
Thanks to One and All
To everyone who turned out on a very cold day and made the event such a huge success, and to our Chairman for an inspired idea!
Appeal
Please could anyone who took photographs on the day please let the Secretary have them so that she can mount a more complete report on the match. Thank you.