RAIN – much heavier in Cheltenham than elsewhere in Gloucestershire – brought a premature end to the cricket festival on Sunday.

Gloucestershire’s chase of the Sussex total of 152 never got underway. It would have been difficult.

An over-grassed, two-paced wicket was not easy for batting. Many deliveries stuck in the surface and with the ball not coming on to the bat, fluent stroke play was difficult.

There was a chance of Gloucestershire having a five-over thrash to reach the Duckworth-Lewis target of 51.

Mr Duckworth, who was present at the game, offered to explain how he arrived at such a formula. I graciously declined the offer.

Having beaten Kent in a near-perfect T20 display on Thursday, Gloucestershire head for Canterbury and the Sky cameras for a game tomorrow (Tuesday).

Their bowling and fielding is of the highest standard so anything is possible.

Sunday was the Life Members' Lunch, a festival landmark. Plenty of familiar faces were there. Terry Day of Bibury had invited a full table drawn from members of the Cotswold mafia, while John Mustoe of Northleach had gathered together guests of both brains and beauty. It was a splendidly jolly occasion.

The cricket was variable this year but the camaraderie better than ever. I enjoyed meeting two colleagues from Deer Park nearly 50 years ago. Mike “The Bike” Appleby served four Cirencester schools with distinction, ending with a headship at Siddington, while Paul Arnold made learning languages a pleasure.

Best of all, however, was a meeting between Alan Jones and Mike Proctor. In the days when the England selectors never crossed the M25, let alone the Severn Bridge, Alan scored 34,000 runs for Glamorgan.

With a South African tour cancelled for all the right reasons, a series against a Rest of the World XI was arranged. To the joy of all Wales, and most of England. Alan was finally chosen to open the batting. The joy at this overdue recognition did not last long. Some faceless committee room men decided these games were not true Test matches and Alan lost his cap. He also lost his wicket twice, cheaply, to Proctor who in that series shone with both bat and ball.

Both men were at Cheltenham for the Glamorgan match and I put them in touch with each other. Alan is now a proud president of Glamorgan.

Photographer Tony Hickey captured the occasion (below).

Proctor, always good value, had a Geoff Boycott story. One evening at Cheltenham Mike ran through the top of the Yorkshire batting. Geoffrey remained not out.

As the players left the field Mike said: “Geoffrey, you were not down my end much.” Geoffrey replied: “That is why I am such a great batsman, Mike.”

Yet another case of self before team.

This Cheltenham is going to be life-changing for Mrs Light and myself. On leaving Cirencester one morning I encountered the elegant Elphicks, Gerald and Rosemary.

Gerald, the one-time Cirencester cycle king and fine performer on the Barn Theatre stage, is four years older than me and Rosemary is older than Mrs Light.

The Elphicks were off to play badminton looking both slim and trim. By comparison Penny and I were dumpling-like. Something must be done – watch this space.

I close with news of next year’s cricket festival. It will take place at the same time in early July. I rejoice. This will mean I can avoid having to watch the boring baseline bashing that occurs in SW19.

I have yet to understand how a Hungarian/Australian can be referred to as 'our girl'. You need to learn the game here before that title has any justification.

Answer to my recent quiz question that defeated you all. The two GPs to open the batting for England were Gilbert Parkhouse and Geoff Pullar.