Jack Martin & Co

16/01/2025

We loved working with Will and Oli Atkinson. It was inspiring to see the younger generation of farmers taking over and continuing to farm, though they've had to diversify too.

Try some of their delicious lamb, beef or goat, camp at the source of the Meon, or go on safari to see, among other flora and fauna, beavers (extinct in the Meon Valley since the 16th century.)

07/11/2024

How www.planetpadel.uk came to be ...

Why is it that we have our best ideas while moving, whether it’s walking, running, biking, or even driving. It probably goes back to our hunter/gatherer ancestors who heard the dawn chorus and either started hunting beasts/gathering fruit and veg, or starved to death.

Then, once we became farmers, we had to walk all day every day, feeding, sowing, and reaping or face famine. It’s only since the industrial revolution turned the latent energy within millions of years of aquatic creatures from coal via the steam engine into usable forms of energy that us cunning homo sapiens created such an abundance of everything that many of us have been able to live largely sedentary lives. And look how disgustingly obese we’ve become.

All of which is an immensely long winded way of saying that Hugo and I came up with www.planetpadel.uk while out running. We started running together during that 18 month collective outbreak of madness when the human race (with the immensely honourable exception of Sweden - lowest excess deaths among OECD countries from Jan 2020 onwards) decided to lock itself up to try and avoid a cold. Hugo was one of the few people I knew, who like me, poo poo-ed the whole absurdity from the beginning.

It was while discussing our various business activities, past, present and future, that Hugo (having played and loved padel on holiday) suggested padel tennis as a new venture. At the time I was trying to introduce futsal to the UK (indoor 5-a-side football as played by the Brazilians, Argentinians, Spanish and Portuguese) - I was far too early. So after Hugo introduced my two older sons and I to padel, which we loved and picked up instantly, and after many months of smashing my head against a futsal shaped brick wall I was easily converted to the cause.

Then, while playing tennis (my favorite sport after futsal) I managed to injure my right wrist so badly that I still can’t use it properly. As any keen sportsman knows, getting injured is second only to the death of one’s children. And for several months I could only run, very depressing. Until it occurred to me to try playing padel left handed, and wonder of all wonders I loved it.

The reason that padel is so much more popular than all other racquet sports in every country that tries it, is its immensely cunning design. The rules are the same as tennis but you play doubles in a court one third the size of a tennis court with glass walls at the back and sides, so if you miss the ball you simply turn around and have another go.

In addition, the ball has less pressure and the rackets less power, so the ball travels 30% slower than a tennis ball. Meaning that, I can play left handed without being completely humiliated, and you can step on court for your very first time and have long rallies and an epically good time.

Jack Martin

www.planetpadel.uk

08/10/2024

Jack Martin & Co October Newsletter
Meonside Farm Beavers, Marauders & Planet Padel

We’re thrilled to have finished Will and Oli Atkinson’s Meonside Farm website. Working with them has been great fun, it’s been inspiring to see the younger generation of farmers taking over and continuing to farm, though they've had to diversify too.

Try some of their delicious lamb, beef or goat, camp at the source of the Meon, or go on safari to see, among other flora and fauna, beavers (extinct in the Meon Valley since the 16th century and returning this autumn or possibly next spring.) They have a thriving storage business, and a rapidly growing farm consultancy arm, sharing what they've learnt taking over the farm from their father George and diversifying.

The Atkinson’s are the driving force behind East Meon Cricket Club, and it was James Atkinson who invited www.themarauders.co.uk to the East Meon Sixes cricket tournament. It’s my sort of cricket, fancy dress, beer, music, five overs per innings, and it turns into the East Meon music festival at the end. All most splendid. Honourable mention goes to www.georgemaltbykitchens.co.uk who managed to recruit our strike bowler in the pub the night before.

Next up, was our first match against a genuine cricket team, Tichborne Park Cricket Club, on their delightful square in the middle of the Alresford Show ground. Sadly Tichborne couldn’t get a team together, not sure whether this reflects badly on us or them, probably both, what to do? After much humming and haa-ing we turned up, played ourselves and had a lovely time, and while the game perhaps lacked a little in competitive bite, we unquestionably emerged with a convincing victory. Special mention to my son Hunter (who claims to hate cricket & hasn’t played since before Covid) he bowled dead straight at a reasonable clip and took two wickets.

Then, we played the Rioteers Cricket Club, a fellow wandering cricket club, at Cheriton CC. We knew we were in trouble when all 11 Rioteers turned up on time, looking remarkably un-hungover (on a Sunday) noticeably fitter than us (with the honourable exception of Anton Ambrose, who runs up and down Mont Blanc at the weekend), proper cricketers. We lost, obvs. Honourable mention goes to Jack Ambrose, who batted with distinction, bowled well, and fielded with truly notable bravery.

Onto, the Hambledon Invitational XI at Hambledon Cricket Club. Certainly cricket was played, but the thing that remains uppermost in my mind is the copious quantities of roast beef and claret for tea. Mention in dispatches must go to my son Dylan (more nepotism.) He bowled the final ball, whereupon the batsman unleashed a thunderous forward drive, Dylan leapt into the air in the manner of a young salmon grilse leaping over a waterfall, plucked it from the gods and landed with a certain nonchalance to win the match. Woof.

Our final match was against our eternal enemy, Caesarians CC, you may recall that this is our grudge match, played since 2001, and won by us last year, by virtue of having two semi-pro cricketers named Corderey join us, somewhat by chance. Well, Caesar’s pride was hurt, this year smiles from the opposition were in short supply, half the team were from Petersfield Rugby Club, cricketers though, we lost. Honourable mention must go to Ben Hardman, who batted well, bowled fast and straight (two clean bowled), and kept wicket, not all at the same time, though I wouldn’t put it past him.

But perhaps the highlight of the season was a marauding weekend at Boomtown Fair, with the wonderful Otto and Lottie Bruce. When I was launching Tom Parker Creamery Otto’s dad Peveril gave me some sound advice re dairy diversification so it was great to see him too.

Roll on shooting season (though strictly for networking purposes, my darling Shannon.)

Jack Martin

PS Hugo Hardman and I have been working on a venture sparked by our new found obsession with padel tennis, it’s called www.planetpadel.uk So if you’re interested in trying the world’s greatest and fastest growing sport please do consider ordering your padel rackets https://planetpadel.uk/order (£99 for two carbon fibre rackets, three balls and a bag!)

https://www.jack-martin.co.uk/news/meonside-farm-beavers-marauders-planet-padel

19/06/2024

Once elected I will be a vegetarian ...
We’re caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, faced with a choice between Dishy Rishy’s Unconservative party, Son-of-a-Toolmaker Starmer’s Labour, Jumping Ed Davey’s Lib Dems, Frothing Farage’s Reform (and never forget the Greens, best beloved.)
https://www.jack-martin.co.uk/news/once-elected-i-will-be-a-vegetarian

12/06/2024

Can't wait!

Get involved in a great local event in East Meon. Raising important funds while having a great laugh.

02/06/2024

With Meonside Farm – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

20/05/2024

I don’t like cricket … I love it
A sport invented in a very different era, when men were men, women were women, and five matches of five days each seemed an eminently sensible period of time to devote oneself to a recreational pursuit.
https://www.jack-martin.co.uk/news/i-dont-like-cricket-i-love-it

03/05/2024

18/04/2024

Six months ago, Jack Martin & Co emerged into the light, blinking, unsteady on our feet, but ready to rip. Every business desperately needs that first client to get the ball rolling, and having launched several businesses, I can tell you from experience it’s a terrifying place to be. But fun, so much fun.

Six months ago, Jack Martin & Co emerged into the light, blinking, unsteady on our feet, but ready to rip. Every business desperately needs that first client to get the ball rolling, and having launched several businesses, I can tell you from experience it’s a terrifying place to be. But fun, so

05/04/2024