You spoiled my holiday 27 years ago

As one of the organisers of The International Cavaliers cricket matches in the 1960's, I had to collect Ted Dexter and Peter Richardson from the Chesterfield local airfield at Staveley. It was on September 1st, 1968 and the two England cricketers were spending their end of season holiday with their families in Norfolk. A televised benefit match had been arranged for Derbyshire player Harold Rhodes, and they had agreed to break their holiday for the day for the good cause. They had flown from Little Snoring airfield in a light aircraft and I was picking them up and taking them to Queens Park for the match. In driving to the venue, they told of the problems the break had brought about, as they and their young families were involved in their own 'Test Match' and the they didn't appreciate their Dads deserting them - even for a day on the TV. The day proceeded, but was eventually rained off, and I returned the two cricketers to Staveley to resume the family holiday. Twenty seven years later, I was organising a professional golf event at The Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. At the concluding presentation dinner on 1st March 1995, I sat next to the General Manager of the golf club, and our conversation got round to where we came from in the UK. It transpired that the GM's father was a cricketer and they had lived first in Kent and then Worcester. He was the son, William, of Peter Richardson and when I recalled the events of 27 years before, said he remembered them vividly, and completed the story from the family end. He didn't say that I had ruined their holiday, but it was hinted at... Four thousand miles, 27 years, and another remarkable coincidence from lifetime of great memories.