Meonside Farm Beavers, Marauders & Planet Padel
We’re thrilled to have finished Will and Oli Atkinson’s Meonside Farm website. Working with them has been great fun, it’s been inspiring to see the younger generation of farmers taking over and continuing to farm, though they've had to diversify too.
Try some of their delicious lamb, beef or goat, camp at the source of the Meon, or go on safari to see, among other flora and fauna, beavers (extinct in the Meon Valley since the 16th century and returning this autumn or possibly next spring.) They have a thriving storage business, and a rapidly growing farm consultancy arm, sharing what they've learnt taking over the farm from their father George and diversifying.
The Atkinson’s are the driving force behind East Meon Cricket Club, and it was James Atkinson who invited The Marauders to the East Meon Sixes cricket tournament. It’s my sort of cricket, fancy dress, beer, music, five overs per innings, and it turns into the East Meon music festival at the end. All most splendid. Honourable mention goes to George Maltby who managed to recruit our strike bowler (2nd from right) in the pub the night before.
Next up, was our first match against a genuine cricket team, Tichborne CC, on their delightful square in the middle of the Alresford Show ground. Sadly Tichborne couldn’t get a team together, not sure whether this reflects badly on us or them, probably both, what to do? After much humming and haa-ing we turned up, played ourselves and had a lovely time, and while the game perhaps lacked a little in competitive bite, we unquestionably emerged with a convincing victory. Special mention to my son Hunter (who claims to hate cricket & hasn’t played since before Covid) he bowled dead straight at a reasonable clip and took two wickets.
Then, we played the Rioteers, a fellow wandering cricket club, at Cheriton CC. We knew we were in trouble when all 11 Rioteers turned up on time, looking remarkably un-hungover (on a Sunday) noticeably fitter than us (with the honourable exception of Anton Ambrose, who runs up and down Mont Blanc at the weekend), proper cricketers. We lost, obvs. Honourable mention goes to Jack Ambrose, who batted with distinction, bowled well, and fielded with truly notable bravery.
Onto, the Hambledon Invitational XI. Certainly cricket was played, but the thing that remains uppermost in my mind is the copious quantities of roast beef and claret for tea. Mention in dispatches must go to my son Dylan (more nepotism.) He bowled the final ball, whereupon the batsman unleashed a thunderous forward drive, Dylan leapt into the air in the manner of a young salmon grilse leaping over a waterfall, plucked it from the gods and landed with a certain nonchalance to win the match. Woof.
Our final match was against our eternal enemy, Caesarians CC, you may recall that this is our grudge match, played since 2001, and won by us last year, by virtue of having two semi-pro cricketers named Corderey join us, somewhat by chance. Well, Caesar’s pride was hurt, this year smiles from the opposition were in short supply, half the team were from Petersfield Rugby Club, cricketers though, we lost. Honourable mention must go to Ben Hardman, who batted well, bowled fast and straight (two clean bowled), and kept wicket, not all at the same time, though I wouldn’t put it past him.
But perhaps the highlight of the season was a marauding weekend at Boomtown, with the wonderful Otto and Lottie Bruce. When I was launching Tom Parker Creamery Otto’s dad Peveril gave me some sound advice re dairy diversification so it was great to see him too.
Roll on shooting season (though strictly for networking purposes, my darling Shannon.)
Jack Martin
PS Hugo Hardman and I have been working on a venture sparked by our new found obsession with padel tennis, it’s called Planet Padel. So if you’re interested in trying the world’s greatest and fastest growing sport please do consider ordering your padel rackets here (£99 for two carbon fibre rackets, three balls and a bag!)