Yesterday was a first in several ways – most importantly it was the first time for me to meet Hawksey's nephew (Tim's son) – Reeve. Now aged 25 and living in Gloucester we chose possibly the worst wekeend weather-wise to winkle poor Reeve off his nice dry hilltop in the Vale of Dean and lure him across soggy England to London – requiring about 6 trains, a tube, hurs of schlepping and a long car ride back from Kent, by which time he had completely missed watching Uncle Hawksey umpiring Maidstone in the gusting wind and drizzle (unlike the rest of us luckless sods…)
And also a first – 5 whole Hawkes family members in the kitchen in one go – Hawksey, Tim, Mel, Reeve and little old me. I think we decided 'a nightmare of Hawkes' was the right collective noun.. Or was it just the more polite 'hubbub'? More of a nightmare for Reeve I think – he may be youngest but his drinking stamina is still developing as he deffo had the worst hangover this morning, v pleasing.
Anyway – good to meet him after all this time and here's the photographic evidence to prove it. Yes, he's the one still towering over H and Tim even though he was hunkering down - apparently his mother is also a relative shortster so he obviously picked up some giant genes somewhere along the line… Nice lad!