Posted by Send your pictures of cricket bats and other cricket stuff in unusual places to king@kingcricket.co.uk. It is more than okay to put the cricket thing in the unusual place yourself if you want. In fact we urge you to do precisely that.
Matthew writes…
I spotted John Emburey at Chelsea Flower Show carrying bouquets for his florist daughter. I buttonholed him as he looked at a giant set of cricket stumps that adorned a World Cup-themed garden by Chelsea’s most decorated designer. Steve Elworthy cut the ribbon.
I also spotted Jack Russell stealing the scene from the lanky Oscar-winning songwriter Sir Tim Rice at an art gallery launch I was at last year. Rice opened the show, waxing lyrical, feeling the love tonight. Jack kept it short, sweet and humble.
I saw Jack sell a couple of paintings. He drank tea and chatted charmingly to the gallery punters about the old days. He’d offer a personal dedication to any buyers.
I boasted about my Royal Academy Summer Exhibition painting being bought by a Dutch princess. Jack said I should have RA written after my name. Jack would usually have a dagger after his. He also has had an MBE after it for almost 30 years.
Emburey and Russell both feature in my new book Lost Cricket Stickers: The Search For 1983’s World of Cricket Sticker Album Heroes, which is out in March.
(King Cricket: As a wonderful footnote to this contribution, in a follow-up email Matthew added, “I also used to teach Ben Stokes cycle safety.” No further details.)
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That was seamless. I shall watch out for it when it’s published.
Emburey, Elworthy and Russell, and cycle safety, wha!?