‘Anyway, the stage tonight really belongs to Peter Knightley. He spoke eloquently last time, and I did in fact check up on his statements. They were quite correct. The access road would not affect the village.’

The clapping was very half-hearted. Maddy wondered if Drew and Caroline had started their first course.

‘Anyway, I think it is high time that I let Peter address you.’ She gestured towards him. ‘Peter Knightley …’

The applause was even less enthusiastic. Peter didn’t smile. There was no honey in his voice as he surveyed the room. ‘I felt I should tell you all this, because if I don’t, then the gossips will have blown it out of all proportion by the time you do get to hear.’

Maddy frowned. He really looked crushed. Maybe he was missing his romps with Diana. She wondered if Drew and Caroline had candlelight.

‘There will be no golf course in Milton St John.’

There was a mass intake of breath. Kimberley turned round and grimaced. Maddy raised her eyebrows. Peter shuffled his feet.

‘As you know, it was imperative that we purchased both the spinney and the orchard. It seems that the orchard is now no longer for sale.’

The audience rumbled. The grapevine had missed this one. Paul and Phil Maynard were standing at the back of the hall. All heads swivelled to stare at them.

‘Bert Maynard,’ Peter went on, ‘has, in fact, sold his orchard to a private purchaser for an undisclosed sum, but one that we,’ he gestured towards Jeff Henley – ‘are apparently unable to match. Paul and Phil are going to be joint managers of the orchard. And that’s about it. Without the orchard we cannot go ahead. I’m sorry that the village has been robbed of this leisure facility.’

‘And more sorry that you’ve been done out of a nice little earner!’ Kimberley roared. ‘Who’s bought it, then?’

‘I really don’t know.’ Peter looked harassed. ‘Bert refuses to tell me, and so do his sons.’ Again, all eyes turned to the back of the hall.

Paul shook his head. ‘We dunno, do we, Phil?’

‘Nope. Dad won’t say nothin’. Just told us we’re to run it and he’ll take instructions from the new boss. Suits us.’

Peter walked disconsolately from the stage and Bronwyn clapped her hands. ‘I still feel that it’s a victory for the village,’ she bellowed. ‘We showed solidarity, and if the need arises, we will do the same again. Anyway, let’s give three cheers for freedom and for triumph.’

There were two and a quarter very half-hearted hurrahs, then everyone shuffled out into the street.

‘Lot of damn fuss about nothing,’ Kimberley snorted. ‘Still, I did enjoy the fracas by the stream. I wonder who’s lined Bert Maynard’s pocket?’