Ten years of women at MCC

Date released: 16 March 2009

Monday 16 March marks ten years since women were first elected into MCC membership.

On that day in 1999 the MCC Committee granted ten women Honorary Life Membership, including former England captain Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Diana Rait Kerr - the Curator of the MCC Museum from 1945-1968 - and Sheila Hill, who umpired the first women’s World Cup Final.

• Five MCC women Members profiled

Since then MCC has granted 14 more women Honorary Life Membership for their exceptional contribution to cricket - including Heyhoe-Flint’s former England teammate Enid Bakewell. There are also 43 other Full Members, 272 Associate Members and 410 candidates for membership.

MCC Women played their first game in May 1999 against a Surrey under-21 side and Wendy Watson celebrated the historic day by scoring a century.

Since then MCC’s ‘squad’ of playing women members have taken in part in nearly 200 games.

There are currently 61 Playing Members including England internationals Caroline Atkins and Claire Taylor.

Three players - Judy Wilmot, Sian Price and Coral Handley - have all notched up over 50 appearances each - over a quarter of MCC’s matches.

Heyhoe-Flint with her honorary membership pass Heyhoe-Flint, who was elected to the MCC Committee for a second stint in 2008 said:

"MCC could not have done more to accommodate women and change its constitution to allow women to become members.

"We didn’t want favours, we just wanted equal recognition.

"I remember when the vote took place, in September 1998, sitting outside the Tavern having a drink, because I was not allowed into the Pavilion.

"When the resolution passed, an MCC Member turned to me and said ‘Life will never be the same again’. Well, I am sure that his life has not changed too radically as a result of women joining the MCC ranks but I can say that all MCC women members have the greatest respect for the tradition and history of the world’s greatest cricket club.

"Women have been included at all levels of a Club that has embraced the concept of female membership, and long may it continue."

Nicky Shaw (left) recently received her 50th cap from captain Charlotte Edwards at Lord's With the female MCC Young Cricketers, the Club was the first organisation in the world to pay women to play cricket.

It also funds women cricketers at Loughborough University of Cricketing Excellence, which has produced players of the calibre of Nicky Shaw - currently England’s vice-captain at the ICC World Cup.

MCC will honour its female cricketers at a dinner later in the season.

MCC’s first female Members were: Betty Archdale, Edna Barker, Audrey Collins, Carole Cornthwaite, Jackie Court, Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Sheila Hill, Norma Izard, Diana Rait Kerr and Netta Rheinberg.