I READ with interest your article reporting on St Peters CC plans to much improve the old pavilion in Preston Park cricket ground and cycle track and I wish them well in this, it is much overdue.

In the 50s, 60s and 70s there were FOUR matches in this oval every Saturday through summer without exception. This meant 44 players changing in this pavilion and another 44 changing in the rooms under the stand.

Boundaries were agreed by the captains but usually ran through the nearest games stumps line and of course the cycle track.

There were limited washing facilities, only in the stand. All matches started at 2pm and teas were taken at staggered intervals starting at 4.15pm through to 5.15pm.

A lot of players brought their own tea but sandwiches, cakes and tea were available at the kiosk at the northern end

of the pavilion.

The wickets were superb and the whole ground was as flat as a billiard table and it was often said that stumps could be arranged anywhere on the field.

There was a full-time groundsman (Old Tom) who had a full-time assistant. Six or eight teams were permanently based in Preston Park and consequently a lot of fixtures were between co-sharing teams and fiercely fought.

I played for Old Varndeanians CC and often both teams featured many who had attended Varndean Grammar

School.

On Sundays there were two matches played. There were very few umpires and so the batting side had to provide two umpires and probably a scorer as well.

Decisions were often given on a reciprocal basis and not on the relevant laws.

David Egginton

Small Dole

Henfield