The charming close where I live in Cirencester is a centre of sporting excellence and opinion. Tony Weighell is a proud walking history of Cirencester Rugby Club. His playing days were long ago but nothing since has escaped him. Has there ever been a better club man. His mum’s match day meals are now legendary.

Reg Hill had an exciting football career starting at Crystal Palace. Ask him about beating Peter Storey of Arsenal on the outside, and find out what happened next! Despite this, it has to be said Reg has found the challenge of walking football beyond him.

Mrs Light flies the athletic flag, being a County Cross Country runner when a member of Highgate Harriers.

Round the corner lives Alan Ayers, an expert on all things Poulton and who, with wife Pam is now a senior and successful member of Cirencester Bowls Club.

My days of being a member of the Friends of Cricketing Chaos (In my day it was the E.C.B) are behind me but contacts keep me informed. In addition I have specialist knowledge of the importance of Trouble House as a skittles centre in the late 1950’s.

Recent months have seen a new dimension welcome in every way. The Brown family arrived proving gracious and charming but they bought with them something else. Sets of Golf clubs were spotted and sources told me our new neighbours were the golfing family Brown who played at the Cirencester Club.

The Browns certainly are a true family. Father Nick plays for the club ‘A’ team while son Harry is the Junior Captain.

Daughter Jess is Vice-Captain of Gloucestershire Girls Golf and has represented them for four years. She has also played for the adult County Ladies team (both 1sts and 2nds). She is in the current Ladies training squad. Playing off a very competitive 5 handicap her dream is to play College Golf in the USA.

A versatile sports women Jess has her full colours for hockey at Malmesbury Secondary School.

What of mum Amanda? She fits the bill of true golfing mum; encouraging, supporting and I suspect chauffeuring.

Apart from the talented young Browns there are two other youngsters that deserve a mention. Harvey Jupp of Lechlade Cricket Club is a left arm spin bowler of considerable talent. Those wretched words ‘stress fracture’ means he will miss the rest of the season, one of which I expected him to kick on. Do not worry Harvey as you have two things on your side. Time and talent.

Freddie Merrit of Lechlade is the second young player. At the age of fifteen he has been elevated to his club’s 1st XI, following scoring prolifically in the second team. It is a big step up. Good luck Freddie.

Our County Cricket team would welcome some youthful talent. Two good lunches at Bristol, where the catering has improved, but not the cricket were the better part of both days. Kent were totally dominant.

There is some excuse for our bowler as our three top pacemen Dan Worall, David Payne and Liam Norwell are all out of action. The batting however continues to disappoint. We cannot afford to keep players for the white ball game. Hankins and Cockbain could be introduced into the upper order. It cannot be too different facing a red ball rather than a white one.

The County league is looking interesting and some good cricket is being played. In Division 1 Poulton and Painswick are disputing top spot, with Chipping Sodbury close behind. Looking at the scores each week I have one regret. I wish I was sixty years younger.