READING’s cricket ground is often used as a landing pad for helicopters, but never before has the passenger list been more famous than last Friday’s.

The occupants were American rock band Queens of the Stone Age en route to a surprise appearance at the Reading Festival. And they were accompanied by Mark Ronson, who is producing their latest album.

The group returned to London by mini-bus as the helicopter was required to fly back to its Battersea base by a certain time.

  • THERE was an extremely sad build up to Thame Town Cricket Club’s visit to Reading for the Home Counties Premier League fixture on Saturday.

Their popular scorer, Liz Chubb, had died suddenly last Wednesday.

She had gone to see her elderly parents a few days earlier, but during her visit the Stowe School teacher was taken ill and died in Margate Hospital.

Players observed a minute’s silence before the match.

  • A MEMORIAL service to celebrate the life of the former Reading Cricket and Hockey Club stalwart, Keith Hunt, is to take place at Guildford Cathedral tomorrow (Friday) at 2pm.

He played for both sections of the club, but it was hockey where he made his mark in later years, even appearing for the England Masters team.

In 2015 he was awarded a British Empire Medal in recognition of his services to sport and to the community in Reading and Wokingham.

  • DURING my five-day stint with Berkshire Cricket Club in the past week it was good to catch up with two friends from different sports.

Tim Sugar, the former Reading Racers speedway team manager, was at Wormsley for the Unicorns Trophy final, while Redingensians and Berkshire rugby coach Mike Tewkesbury watched the third day of the Unicorns Championship play-off at Banbury on Tuesday.

Berkshire won the Trophy final after topping their group and getting through the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but it is likely this 50/50 overs competition next year will switch to a straight knock-out from the opening round.