Hamish “Chopper” Pringle celebrated his coming of age (50 years) with a tour of Stanlake Park winery and a curry in Mike Keiller’s local, Haweli, Twyford on Sunday evening playing against a team of diehard Redsox.

The Redsox started a little slowly in the freezing conditions but once Amrish and, our ringer Sajeep, had got through his nervous start with the tannins we began to pick up pace. Hamish and Ruth, the tour leader, scored for the opposition with a number of well-aimed shots at the expense of the skipper’s marketing background but fortunately once Mrs Hooper returned with a fur hat (and hand warmers for Mrs Denehy) the Redsox really warmed up.

After consuming numerous oak- matured and cheesy English white wines en route around the vineyard, the final glasses of English fizz and several bottles of the aptly named “The Reserve” red wine, left the spectators suspecting the game may have to be abandoned; but once credit cards came out at the wine shop till the Redsox began to create some real purchase and the game appeared to be swinging our way.

Arriving for the second half at the Haweli to find Fitty already onto his third pint of larger gave the Redsox some real fluidity and momentum; goals, chapatis, taka dahls and chicken curries and were soon flying in from all angles to leave the Redsox worthy winners. Leaving Mrs Pringle with the challenges of working out the match fees and escorting her elderly husband home to bed with his zimmer.

Congratulations Hamish and thanks for a terrific and unforgettable evening!

Micky Denehy