BOOTboys

GLW2403 : A Visit to the MCC

Sunday 12th May 2024

It's now four weeks after the event so the memory has dimmed somewhat. What I do recall is that Luca had been asked to play for Burneside 3rd team. That's adults; well, mostly. And they play a potential 40 overs per innings. It could be a long game. The match was over at Millom, perhaps the least visited town on the Cumbria coast. The Millomites don't look south to Barrow nor north to Whitehaven; they are fiercely independent and no doubt their cricket would reflect that.

As mum and dad were otherwise committed, it was Oma and Opa's task to deliver Luca to the ground. What a terrible thing to have to do- drive through splendid scenery on a lovely day with two happy grandchildren! Yes, Ellie had joined us for the outing.

We duly delivered Luca to the hallowed gates of the M.C.C., (Millom, not Marylebone).

It's a nice ground although it does have a bit of a hilly area in front of the pavilion.

As per instructions, we left Luca with his teammates and went exploring the local area. Although mentioned in the Doomsday Book, Millom didn't really develop until mid Victorian times when haematite was mined. It went into decline when the mineworks were closed in the 1960s. This is commemorated with a stature of "The Scutcher".

There was a bit of a resurgence in the 1970s and 80s, manufacturing Sealand Hovercrafts.

Our destination was the Hodbarrow Nature Reserve, where the site of the old mine works is now a tranquil stretch of coastal lagoon and grassland overlooking the Duddon estuary. The path took us to the old lighthouse.....

..... and then down onto the beach, a pleasant little cove with plenty of sand and pebbles to keep us entertained.

It reminded me of the painting we have in our dining room.

As a bonus, there was also a table at which to have our butties and a modern obelisk with verse:

With breath of life

now land revived

soaring birds cry

alive, alive

Later, we returned to the cricket ground, in time to see Luca bat.

Millom's team included a female fast bowler and a young demon who looks like he is going to be a big star once he puts on some muscle. Luca went in after something of a collapse but helped restore respectability, ending up as second top scorer.