Monday, February 25

Blofeld and Baxter, Nottingham Playhouse

Well, my dear old thing. If you're after one outrageous story after another, then this is an event to appeal.

It's always interesting listening to old raconteurs reliving their finest hour... and other people's too.

But what, more than anything else, made it a choice evening was the eloquence and mellow tones of Test Match Special commentator Henry Blofeld who, if a little muddled with his words now and again, has still seen more than enough to fill an evening chatting on stage with his old radio producer Peter Baxter.

An Ashes Test venue twice in the next few years, Trent Bridge came in for high praise, as did local hero Derek Randall.

Surprisingly, it was an audience filled not with chaps, but mainly chaps with their chap-esses, making it a lovely event from start to finish.

If you've never heard the tale about that quaint church on the hill looking out towards West Bridgford, then (yes, it's not a church, is it...) you'd have roared with laughter at Blowers' recollection of his commentary when he saw a plume of smoke from the "churchyard" and surmised that the vicar was having a barbecue for his parishioners.

Of course, the knowledgeable audience second- guessed the punchline, made on air "in all innocence", according to the broadcaster.

We remembered CMJ, Jonners and John Arlott – all now sadly departed – discovered what a Boycott curry is, travelled the world's top cricket grounds and learned the truth about "The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey". Howzat?