A royal welcome in the heart of town

The latest in our series on South Devon takes us to Queens Park, sitting quite rightly in the centre of Paignton where no visitor would ever miss it.

The pitch is central to the complex that also incorporates bowls and rugby. Many a straight hit has landed on the bowling green scattering the other players in white. On the opposite side is the rugby pitch, dormant in summer but sometimes shows the scars of the winter game with an occasional ‘bobble’ in the outfield.

The impressive brick-built pavilion, designed by EG Catchpole has been in situ since 1938, replacing an old wooden building put up by the original members.

Built in the Victorian style, it has an ornate tower on the outer side facing the road and a tiered stand overlooking the sports field on the other. Underneath is the bar and a side room, where the tremendous teas are served. The teas at Paignton have to be up there among the elite of cricket teas.

Sitting on the top tier of the stand offers a wider vista that gives the spectator the full sensory experience at Paignton.

Directly opposite is the train station that more often than not in the summer employs steam trains to huff and puff loudly, as well as injecting steam on to the pitch. The sharp whistle at the wrong time can have a wickets column all of its own.

I’m sure the drivers time it perfectly when the bowler is in mid-delivery stride.

The square is hard and bouncy, as you might expect at the level the club plays, and the outfield can be lightening and hard to pick the ball up as a result.

The first thing to strike you as you turn into the car park is the impressive Trevor Ward net facility, named after the club stalwart.

This is making a statement about the importance of nurturing young talent at the club who in recent memory produced the England wicketkeeper batsman Chris Read. As the nets are usually always occupied it might not be long until the next first class cricketer emerges from Queens Park.