There is something special about cricket festival week at Canterbury and I try and coincide my annual visit to Kent CCC headquarters for this specific week.

When my father, a life member, was alive, we went to either the Thursday or Friday of this week every year, and I try to keep the tradition going as far as possible.

His timing was such that he passed away during the week. I visited him in his hospice while Geraint Jones, one of his favourites, was digging Kent out of a hole with a century and I went on to watch some of the cricket that afternoon. I left a card for the players to sign that afternoon but sadly, he died during the night, so he never got to see it.

The day before I planned to go, I booked online to reduce the cost but then we had a printer crisis. Fortunately, after turning everything on and off countless times,  my daughter managed to print it out. What would have happened had she failed?

Then the epic travel started. Leaving home well before 9:00 a.m., I caught the bus to Bromley and walked the length of the High Street to catch the first train after 10 (saving another £8.15).

Happily, the train ran to timetable and a yomp up to the ground got me in with 40 minutes gone and eight runs on the board.

My first (and last) vantage points were in the seats immediately up the hill from the turnstiles.

I have no liking of Hampshire CCC following the behaviour of three of their member clubs on a tour my club undertook to Southampton a few years ago, and I did not really want to spend a day watching them bat, but it did mean I could see how Bexley CC bowler Adam Riley was progressing and he didn’t disappoint when trapping former Kent player, Michael Carberry, in front in his first over. 71 runs had been scored by then so the breakthrough was vital.

Untroubled again, the visitors reached 90 for one at lunch by which time I had wandered past a couple of marquees and into the CAMRA tent.

Judging by the clatter of cutlery on plates and bowls, a feast was being enjoyed by the Band of Brothers and the President’s guests. Maybe, one day on a less formal occasion, I’ll have the opportunity to chat with him about the long gone Village Blacksmith pub in Woolwich, his favourite stop for a quick pint on the way home from playing a game at the Oval.

It is quite likely that most of those enjoying their meals missed the second wicket when Mitch Claydon had Jimmy Adams strangled down the leg side and caught by Sam Billings. Doug Bollinger then gave James Vince a real working over before a rain break allowed the Hampshire batsman some respite and the diners to finish their coffees and mints.

As so often happens, the covers were removed and there was a spell of bright sunshine before play resumed. Hopefully, most of the guests were watching when Bollinger removed Vince shortly after the break, Billings taking the catch.

Will Smith and Liam Dawson then batted well together as Hampshire looked to rebuild before both fell with the score on 187. Smith became Riley’s second LBW victim and Dawson, the second to be taken down the leg side by Billings off Claydon, this one being an excellent catch.

Adam Wheater came in and had an immediate escape when dropped behind off Riley by which time I had walked three quarters of the way around the perimeter (anti-clockwise for wickets) and bought my annual. When the bails were removed for tea, Hampshire were 205 for 5 and Kent probably the happier.

At the break, captain Robert Key sacrificed his sandwiches to represent the club around the Lime tree for a very moving memorial service at which he laid a wreath.

Shortly after tea, Wheater fell to a catch behind off Bollinger after which followed an eight minute break due to glare off the window of the scorers room. Captain Key made the most of the break to leave the field presumably either for a comfort break or a quick cuppa, but was back long before play resumed.

A return to the CAMRA tent showed that they had enjoyed a good day with several barrels finished off and people snoozing in their seats.

Meanwhile, any control Kent had was wrestled away as Sean Ervine and Chris Wood repaired the damage taking the score beyond 300. The new ball did not trouble them and all looked plain sailing until Darren Stevens claimed his first victim of the day, Wood falling for 61, caught by Harmison in the penultimate over of the day.

Hampshire closed on 343 for seven and I spent the long journey home reflecting on a good day’s cricket, a couple of excellent beers, a thought or two for events at tea time, and wondering what my father would have made of all the changes to the ground.