The most poignant experience of Mersham-le-Hatch that I can remember was an incident during a game of rounders played out front on the lawn. Rounders, as you probably know, is called softball in America and follows identical rules. I was the "pitcher" in an underhand fashion and had bowled two strikes against the batter with one more to go before she was out. Suddenly the batter turned to the umpire, Elizabeth Lloyd, and said "Foul! he's spinning the ball." Lloyd, who was known among the boys as a "weirdo" exclaimed, "Michael Barker, stop spinning the ball!" I played cricket, tennis, soccer, and shinty and I've never heard an umpire or referee instruct the players how to play. I was not yet 11 years of age, but this example of female stupidity, and prejudice stayed with me. My mother was incensed, and complained bitterly to me that I was the victim of a system controlled entirely by unqualified women.

However, I certainly don't regret my time at Caldecott because I'd endured, and survived, the German bombing of London in an "air raid" shelter installed at the bottom of the garden by the "Home Guard."

***

To answer your question: No! it's not possible for a young lad to spin the ball when delivered in an underarm fashion. That's the point. This woman didn't know what she was talking out and simply trying to make me appear as a person who cheats at the game. He job was tending the girls at Caldecott. Miss Travers handled the boys and thankfully made me a groom so that I could go to the meadow, catch a pony, ride it bareback to the stable and perform the necessary work. That's probably why I have such a great love of animals.

***

[The article Michael is about to refer to is "The Caldecott Community", in the October 10, 2018 issue of Dorset Life, pp. 15-16: https://issuu.com/dorsetlifeed/docs/dorsetlifeinpurbeck2018 . This continues a conversation begun in the previous section, "Hyde House"]

One most interesting point about the magazine article is the snapshot of the three girls and the two ponies, one of which was called Muffin. It took me almost a year's riding instruction from Miss Travers on Puff and Mary before I was allowed to ride Muffin, the "lighter pony" in the picture; however, it would be almost a year before that transpired. This occurred at Mersham-le-Hatch as we entered the deer park on our return from a country walk with the ponies. When the five-bar gate was opened, Muffin took absolute control of the proceedings and, once through the gate, immediately broke into a canter and then to a full gallop all the way back to the stable, leaving the rest of the party behind. I looked at that photo today and marveled that such a small pony could generate such a turn of speed. From that moment on, I was promoted to a groom with an organized program of tasks to perform. I was at Mersham-le-Hatch and the deer-park today on Google Earth and noticed that the 5-bar gate has been replaced with a 7-bar gate with an adjacent turnstile for pedestrians. I recall that the gamekeeper lived about a mile back on the same narrow lane.

***

On the subject of tree climbing, the senior boys at Mersham-le-Hatch erected an "Assault Course" that involved rope climbing and other commando-like exercises out in the woods near where the grass snakes lived. I understand that the idea had its roots in the Gordonstoun School programs up in Scotland. Miss Rendel apparently had a connection with its board of directors. 

***

When Miss Travers took a group of us to the River Stour, were you part of the group? I ask this because I spent a great deal of time yesterday with my largest magnifying glass on Google Earth attempting to find even the river in some proximity to Brabourne Lees, without success. I can only remember it was in a North Easterly direction from Mersham le Hatch. On the subject of Miss Travers, do you remember when she received her new car, an Austin A40 Devon, for which she apparently spent two years on the waiting list before receiving it?

***

One other important event came to mind regarding Mersham-le-Hatch. We had eurythmics classes in the library once a week I believe. At some stage of the proceedings, we were bundled into a motor coach, driven up to London's Steiner Hall (or some such name) and performed like veteran troopers in a theatre. Frankly, I can remember very little of the event. Steiner Hall was just down from Madame Tussauds and the Planetarium near Baker St. Station. The library, at the time, had a fine collection of books including a local copy of the Domesday book: an inventory check of the land holdings forced upon the English by William the Conqueror in 1066. Ten years ago or thereabouts Mersham-le-Hatch was up for sale (or lease) and the real estate agent had the interior of the place made available online with a video of many of the rooms.