THE bacon rolls ran out at 1.20pm and 25 wickets had fallen by the end of play on day one. Life at the Cheltenham Festival is never dull.

Having returned from my Italian idyll I headed for my Gloucestershire equivalent on Monday hoping for some peaceful days watching county cricket. I should have known better.

A cloudy atmosphere, a swinging ball and a pitch of uneven bounce, allied to some poor batting, meant the day was far from peaceful. It was edge-of-the-seat cricket between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan, but that does not mean good cricket.

No batsman got settled in and it was very much a bowler’s day.

If it continues at this rate there will be no cricket on Wednesday or Thursday and county coffers will suffer.

There is fortunately much more to Cheltenham than cricket. It is a place of memories, hopes and dreams.

Old friends, former opponents and the aristocracy of the cricketing press make conversations a delight.

Two of the best local cricketers I have played against – the Messenger brothers, Mike and John (Duntisbourne Abbots, Birdlip and Chalford) – provided a host of memories, while journalist Mike Henderson always stretches conversation to the widest intellectual parameters.

By lunchtime he had already encountered Edward Gardner who this Saturday conducts the first night of The Proms.

Edward, who loves his cricket, was once a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral.

The cooperation, efficiency and drive of all at Cheltenham College deserves much praise. Never has the festival been held earlier and pupils were still on site on Saturday.

Cirencester Cricket Club should be proud as well. They are enjoying some fine results at every level, but there is an extra dimension this year.

It is the club’s 175th anniversary and to celebrate this they are enjoying a marvellous week of cricket.

This started splendidly. A crowd of about 130 were entertained by veteran broadcaster Henry Blofeld. I have heard Henry before and I understand the evening went well.

Sunday at the town ground was an absolute delight. Two tournaments were played. The girls’ event was won by Poulton and the Under-9s by Cheltenham, with Poulton coming second.

Results do not mean everything, however, and what made the day special was the enthusiasm of all the players and the enthusiastic support they received from their parents.

If you worry about the future of our great game there is no need. Its heart was beating strongly in Cirencester Park on Sunday afternoon.

Such events do not happen by accident and two people deserve a special mention.

Brian Woodcock and his wife Nikki were everywhere on Sunday doing all the necessary things which make such a day work.

Of course, many other people connected with the cub have been involved so full marks to all.

I am told the success of the events so far has even drawn a smile from the usually taciturn Phil Carter.

At Cheltenham I took refuge in the committee tent at an early hour because in journeying from my car I was besieged by those many soccer supporters delighted about FGR’s promotion.

The goodwill expressed towards the Nailsworth club was overwhelming. Many of the well-wishers were Cheltenham Town fans.

The rest of this column is a football-free zone, after all it is the Cheltenham Cricket Festival. This is an occasion when many quiz questions are asked and sometimes answered.

Most are posed by Mike Simpson who was a major player in organising the club’s wonderful Christmas dinners at Berkeley Castle or Chavenage House.

I pose one question that may defeat those who resort to the internet seeking answers. How many GPs have opened the batting for England since the Second World War, and who are they?

A bottle of Rioja awaits the winner.