YOU showed a picture recently of a house called Beech Hurst.

Many, many years ago, I know not when, a teacher at Rookwood School, adjoining, invented a machine for bowling a cricket ball towards the batsman in the practice nets.

His first attempt was not successful.

The ball went flying through the air and smashed a window in the big house (Beech Hurst) – source: the Daily Telegraph, early 1970s.

When you think that this was 200 yards distant, I would say that was a good shot.

Around 1956/57, a fete in Beech Hurst Park was opened by Jack Warner (Dixon of Dock Green).

He owned a Rolls-Royce car and in fact spoke to me.

Derek Weeks, Martin Way, Andover