For the weekend of 28 February to 3 March, Dennis Stones, EDP Umpire Instructor, travelled to St Vallier du Thiey on the French Riviera to conduct an ACU&S Part I Course and Examination. He was met at Nice Airport by Graham Kelsey in a vintage Renault 5 which he keeps in Nice and uses on cricketing occasions. Graham had organised the event and that morning had travelled 500 kms from Italy, where he now resides.

There were nine participants from the South East Region though one, Mike Lomax, had travelled from Deal in Kent to be there! Facilities were excellent, the course being held in the village chapel which doubles as the cinema.

A start was made on Friday evening and the course went on until after lunch on Sunday with the usual breaks for food, drink and sleep. Dennis was given a taxing time by the candidates with their detailed and perceptive questioning. They had obviously remembered everything and more from the Introductory Course that had been held a few months earlier. At the end of the course the exam was taken and much to the relief of James Hogg there were no questions about penalty runs!

Dennis enjoyed the hospitality of his hosts and was impressed by their commitment to cricket in all its aspects.