Giles Clarke worked closely with Rachael Heyhoe-Flint for almost a decade, having launched the process of her groundbreaking appointment to the ECB Board in 2008. Here, on the day of her funeral in Wolverhampton, the ECB’s President and former Chairman pays a personal tribute.
I have so many vivid memories of Rachael – she was a remarkable person, who made a considerable impression on everyone she encountered.
But one that springs to mind is the day we confirmed the first professionalisation of the women’s game, with full-time contracts for our leading England players. ‘Giles,’ she said when the Board meeting had concluded, ‘we should have a chat’. Over a coffee, she reflected, with some emotion. ‘You know where we’ve come from,’ she said to me. ‘I never thought I would be able to have a vote on whether women should be paid to play cricket for England. I can’t tell you what it means to me’.
It is a fitting legacy for her, because it is impossible to overstate the role she played in the development of women’s cricket, both in this country and globally – and in increasing its profile. Everybody knew that whatever happened in the women’s game, she would be there at the centre.
That meant that when I pressed our Board on the importance of us becoming the first leading sport in this country to adopt female directors in 2008, there was never any doubt that Rachael had to be there – and of course she was duly elected, with Jane Stichbury, who has also served with great distinction.
Rachael had long been an iconic figure. She had led the campaign for women to become members of the MCC. She was the driving force behind the establishment of a cricket World Cup for women in England in 1973, two years before the men followed suit. She was already in the House of Lords, providing her with an ability to represent cricket and the ECB which has proved so valuable in so many ways.
It should also be acknowledged that she was an outstanding athlete and ball-player. She played hockey as well as cricket for England. But equally important was her ability to get on with people – to be part of a club. That went back to her early days in the Midlands – even in those days, so many cricket clubs around the country were dependent on their women members, for spirits and humour. Of course now thousands of those women, and growing numbers of girls, are out on the pitch – again, part of Rachael’s legacy.
What can one say about Rachael’s character? Extremely articulate, highly amusing – a brilliant after-dinner speaker, absolutely hysterical.
As anyone who attended Board meetings with her would confirm, she was also formidable. Some of us could be seen as pretty intimidating – but Rachael wouldn’t be at all worried by any of us. If Rachael wanted to carry on a discussion, the discussion was carried on, until Rachael was satisfied we had heard her arguments. She would set out her point of view with great clarity – and she was happy to debate with anyone. She was fearless in her approach.
As Clare Connor said in her own tribute, Rachael was also invaluable and highly influential as a mentor, in helping Clare to do such an outstanding job as the ECB’s first director of women’s cricket.
It really is difficult to do justice to all that Rachael achieved in her remarkable life, and to the exhilarating person that she was. I hope this has provided some flavour of that. The tributes that I know she will receive at her funeral will be so richly deserved.