The unfurling of spring's pale shoots and the greening of the trees herald the arrival of summer. Fresh mornings precede hot days promising late afternoon sunshine and warm evenings. Outside, the search for shade and cool drinks begins. Bees drone lazily in gardens and cats and dogs wallow in the sun. On the village green, the umpire's calls and the clunk of cricket ball on bat are deadened by the heat.

Cricket, tennis, sailing – the sporting life is synonymous with summertime. But like Easter without eggs, Wimbledon without strawberries and Lord's without flannels are unthinkable. These events, plus the thrill of the game's challenge, the picnics, the whiff of mint and borage in fizzy summer drinks, and the satisfaction of a healthy complexion well earned outdoors, are the long-awaited features of summer. And on a sunny day there is no pastime finer than that of the spectator at a match who combines them all, lounging in a deck-chair. This slow art of the spectator is the real sport of summer.

Llanelwedd, Wimbledon, Cowes, Lord's, Breamar.
The order of the stamps is correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to alteration.