Above all else I just love to watch the skills and hope for close contest. My critique for the apparent abandon to the discipline of purity I will always respect and proudly retain though.
Cricket and it's wonders to behold have always been the pillars of the game I hold so dear. John Arlott once warned me "If you want to know cricket, don't get to know the cricketers" and there's a lot in that. Thanks to my father (a prominent head of chambers) and his delight to represent many in their various scrapes with the law ('pro bono') I had the wondrous fortune of meeting so many throughout my childhood and early years. Their obvious fondness for him expressed itself as an avuncular attachment. I was particularly fond of Richie Benaud, Peter Richardson and of course 'Uncle's' Trevor Bailey and Gordon Barker. Just being in these circles spread my contacts and in time I inherited my fathers representative role for many of them. I'd have laughed at the fees I never charged in compensation for the wealth of experience, fun, contacts and travel gained by their friendship. Oh and I should add knowing every bar that's free in most places these peripatetic professionals adorn with their skills!
I've represented just about every Nationality that the game embraces, from speeding tickets and divorces to compensation, nothing criminal, resulting mostly to 'on the steps' settlements. Exclusively and I speak for the years 1972 thereon until 2005 I have never encountered a bad one and they all keep in touch. I'm saddened when some like dear Graham Dilley pass on so prematurely, or my mothers favourite Brian Luckhurst, whom she continuously chided about the ills of smoking. Dear friends departed but their memories are everywhere of course.
It's late and my poor little dog has his head on my keyboard snoring away, so we're off to the county of Bedfordshire!