Marylebone Cricket Club expresses its sadness at the passing of Baroness Heyhoe Flint.
A pioneer of the women’s game, Rachael Heyhoe Flint captained England between 1966 and 1978 and had a long association with MCC.
She also played in the first ever women’s match at Lord’s in 1976 against Australia, the 40th anniversary of which was celebrated at the Home of Cricket last year with a special dinner at which she spoke.
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This is a terribly sad day for everyone involved in cricket and all of us at MCC
In 1999, she was elected as one of MCC’s first ten female Honorary Life Members. She went on to become the first woman to be elected on to the MCC Committee in 2004, and served a second three-year term between 2008 and 2011.
Baroness Heyhoe Flint was also a member of the MCC Cricket committee between 2004 and 2010, and a Trustee of the Club between 2011 and 2013.
She maintained a close association with MCC and managed the MCC Women’s team which played against the Rest of the World in the Lord’s Bicentenary fixture of 2014.
MCC President Matthew Fleming said: “This is a terribly sad day for everyone involved in cricket and all of us at MCC. Rachael Heyhoe Flint was a pioneer of women’s cricket.
"She was the first global superstar in the women’s game and her overall contribution to MCC, cricket and sport in general was immense.
“In 1999, Rachael was elected as one of the first ten female Members of MCC, and she became a central figure in the Club.
"Her impact on MCC, be it through events on the field or in the Committee Room, was immeasurable and her enthusiasm, wisdom and gentleness of character will be missed by everyone with whom she came into contact. We all loved her.”
The MCC flag on the Clock Tower at Lord’s has been lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect.
