Alistair is ready to give up as cricket captain.

Radio Times: Brookfield prepares for a Royal old time.

Characters: Adam, Alistair, Charlie, David, Neil, Pip, Ruth

• Pip is helping Charlie, the bird specialist, to weigh and ring the owl chicks. According to David, it’s a wonder she can do anything, considering the state in which she came home last night.
• Neil is hoping for some work at harvest time, the pig business being so bad. He asks Adam about Lilian and reports that, when Mike starts his milk round, there is always a light on at the Dower House.
• David has lined up Eddie and Bert to help look after the Herefords at The Royal, so Phil will not be overstretched.
• Usha’s visit to Brookfield was brief, but long enough for Pip to pick up on her mood. Ruth explains that she and Alan have had their first big row.
• There is, Alistair believes, an atmosphere at nets, with Adam undermining him at every turn. He doesn’t need this, on top of his father’s demands, and is ready to quit. David talks him out of it – for now.