Annual Summer Day 26: Sunshine, Strategy, and Croquet

From our head office in Malmesbury, we manage business hubs and commercial sites across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset, including Chippenham, Blandford Forum, Marlborough, and Tetbury. Because our team is spread out across these different locations, we really value the moments we get to step away from the desks and catch up properly.

Every year, we get everyone together for our traditional Summer Team Day. We have built up quite a portfolio of past excursions – including river punting, a canal boat trip, crazy golf, bowls, and a country hike. This year, we decided to try our hand at croquet.

Lunch at The Neeld Arms

Before heading to the lawns, we met up to fuel up and escape the midday sun at The Neeld Arms in Grittleton, just outside Chippenham. The traditional country pub was the perfect place to unwind and catch up.

The menu offered a great selection, and we certainly made the most of it. We started with a range of options, including the mini black pudding scotch eggs. For the main course, choices included the fish of the day, classic fish and chips, and risottos, followed by a mix of summer favourite puddings.

Taking to the Lawns at Kington St Michael

With lunch finished, we made the short journey to the beautiful lawns of the Kington St Michael Croquet Club. The weather was absolutely scorching, making it feel like a true midsummer championship.

We were looked after and coached by two expert members of the club. They walked us through the proper techniques, from the grip to the tactical positioning required to get around the hoops. Armed with our new knowledge, the team split into two groups for a friendly but competitive match.

Standout Moments on the Lawn

The afternoon brought out everyone’s competitive side, and a few memorable moments stood out:

• George deployed some highly “interesting” and unconventional tactics to try and secure a win – even if it didn’t quite pay off in the end!
• Abi played a brilliant match to win her game, wisely choosing to retire at the top of her game and sit out the next round.
• Jen decided the summer heat called for a grounded approach and played the games completely barefoot.
• Dan leaned into the competitive spirit by quietly chatting with the club coaches to get extra insider tips.
• Blossom kept everyone on their toes, sometimes hitting a shot absolutely spot on, and other times sending the ball flying miles off the lawn.

Despite the super hot temperatures, the energy stayed high right until the final whistle. It was a fantastic blend of friendly rivalry and team collaboration, and a thoroughly memorable day out.

A huge thank you to the coaches at Kington St Michael Croquet Club for their brilliant hospitality and patience. Now, we are back at the office and looking forward to a busy few months ahead. The only question left is: how do we top croquet next summer?