Sir.-A recent article by Robert Brown brought back a wartime memory for me.

The page featured a picture of Sherfield Manor - I was one of the girls who came from North London, First Middlesex Platoon ATS to join 10th Glos ATS to serve at CAD Bramley in September 1939.

We formed a hockey team and cricket team. We played Sherfield ladies and beat them.

The return match was going to be played in the grounds of Sherfield Manor, but it rained in the morning and the Sherfield ladies called the match off.

The lady of the manor said we were to go to tea as planned, so we went - and what a tea! We were waited on by footmen and were made very welcome.

It was the beginning of the war, so before rationing.

We played hockey and cricket against Huntley and Palmers biscuit company in Reading.

I am the only one left now who settled in this area. My husband was in the regular army, so he finished his career at CAD Bramley, after 35 years in RAOC, having started at Bramley in 1936.

A friend, Florrie, sadly died a few years ago. She lived in Sherfield and was our greatest bowler.

In fact, the late Arthur Attwood once mentioned our cricket match in one of his own history articles.

Thank you for bringing back the memories.

-F Hughes, Clarke Estate, Basingstoke.