Mike Gatting recalled his playing days in Newcastle when he marked the 125-year anniversary of the Jesmond cricket ground.
He was one of many England stars together with the world's greatest players who took part in the Callers Pegasus annual festival played at Jesmond throughout the 1980's.
Young players from the Newcastle Cricket Club's junior WASPS squad met up at Durham with Mike who is now Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships for the ECB.
Pictured with Mike are 12-year-old Alex Hardy and brother Will, aged 15; and 12-year-old Dom Gowling and sister Emma, aged 10.
Will, a talented spin bowler, was chosen as an Olympic torch bearer for the Newcastle Quayside.
Mike said: "I have fond memories of those days in Jesmond - it was great to play with international players and be able to talk and socialise with them in a less competitive environment.
"It is a very local ground with the church and graveyard on the boundary and the road outside protected from balls by a huge net. The ground and the club now has a great future. It's great to see cricket in the North East is really thriving."
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Big thanks to all the really helpful Riverside staff we met on our visit - they were fantastic, cheerful, calm, two even offered to help carry our camera kit. Really impressed!
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