Women's cricket stalwart Collins dies
15 February 2010

Audrey Collins OBE, one of the towering figures of women’s cricket in England and founder of Radlett Women's Cricket has died aged 94.

Collins was a famed player and administrator who championed the cause of the women’s game through the Women’s Cricket Association.

She was one of the first 10 female members admitted by the MCC, when it voted to allow women to enter the Long Room in 1999.

Born in India in 1915, Collins’ father was killed in the First World War, and her Australia-born mother decided to bring her three children to England in 1920.

Collins played in her first women’s cricket week aged 12, and went on to read Chemistry at the University of London.

She represented a number of women’s teams, most prominently Middlesex women and South women, before playing her one and only official Test against Australia in the 1937 Ashes.

In the drawn Test at The Oval, Collins scored 27 in the first innings batting at number eight. She put on 54 in half an hour with Betty Archdale, after the pair were told to “get on with the job!”

Collins moved to St Albans after the Second World War, played for the East and became secretary and later chairman of the WCA for six years.

Her term as WCA president, from 1983 to 1994, was the longest in the history of the organisation, which eventually merged with the ECB in 1998.

All Collins’ work for the WCA was on a voluntary basis, and as such, she is credited with steering the WCA through lean times, and helping to lay the foundations for the healthy interest in cricket amongst women today.

In later years, Collins was best known for her services to various chocolate firms in her unstinting efforts to raise funds in continued support of women's cricket.

Michele Verroken has posted the following tribute/memorial on the ECB website:

"Bless you Audrey, you are very much loved and missed by your fellow players at Radlett Cricket Club (Vagabonds). We have all benefited from your commitment and your love of the game. Your scorebook was never to be forgotten, even when you used light yellow pencil too. We have lovely memories of your last indoor game with us in 2007, batting, you tripped, the hall went silent, you picked yourself up to run again before the ball reached the stumps. If only other were made of the same stuff Audrey! We won the indoor league this year - and dedicate that win to you."

Bob was taken ill, thought to be a minor stroke, in late August while coaching at the club. However, it was diagnosed in October as a malignant brain tumour. Treatment has sadly been unsuccessful, and in December he learnt that he is not expected to recover from his illness.

His family have move him closer to them and he is now at:

The Steep House Nursing Home, Tilmore Road, Petersfield, Hants GU32 2HS - Switchboard Tel: 01730 260095.

His daughter Danielle and I agree that contact would be good to raise his spirits and for him to receive notes or hear from his friends and those he coached at Radlett.

If there are any further developments I will let you know - TJ.

The AGM is to be held in the pavilion on Friday 5th February starting at 8:00pm. The bar will be open from 7:30pm. Documentation is available on the website to members only.

New Year - New Cricket Season- New venue for RCC Nets

Radlett Cricket Club Winter nets start this coming Tuesday 12th January and continue every Tuesday for 12 weeks.

Venue- New Sports Hall - Queens School (south side complex)

Great venue- 3 nets, parking on site

Young Players 7pm-8pm
Seniors and Women 8pm-9pm

Only costs £3 per person (no extra entrance fees)

Forget the snow and ice – think summer - think cricket!!

"I am very sorry to have to tell you that Geoff Wilkins, a long term friend of Radlett Cricket Club, died on Christmas Eve after his battle with cancer. I have sent a card on behalf of the club to his wife Jackie, and I can now pass on details of the funeral arrangements for those who want to attend.

The service will be at the Breakspear Crematorium, Breakspear Road, Ruislip, HA4 7SJ on Monday 11th January at 2.00pm. After the service there will be a reception at Geoff’s club, Eastcote CC in Southill Lane, Eastcote HA5 2EG."

Tony Johnson

Stumpies and Willows play their final league games on Sunday 13th December, in an exciting finish that could see both teams at the top of the league table. Stumpies play Ickenham at 12 and Willows play Potters Bar at 1pm.
A win for Stumpies will confirm their place on top of the league and a win for Willows will settle the second place in their favour.
Stumpies play Potters Bar in the Cup Final on Thursday 10th December. Good luck to both teams!

Top of the league Radlett Stumpies beat Redbourn by 26 runs and 4 wickets to reach the Indoor Cup Final for the second year running. Radlett Stumpies pairs batted well to reach 256 runs for the loss of only one wicket. The style of bowling required controlled and thoughtful batting and Stumpies delivered. First pair LVJ & Lorna Browne put on 64 runs in 4 overs, Helen Clifford & Laura Guerney added a further 50 runs in their 4 overs and final pair Emily Grist & Piya Haria ran 42 in the final 3 overs.
Radlett Stumpies took to the field and Redbourn took advantage of bowling errors to keep pace with Radlett up to the end of the 8th over. Superb bowling and fielding from Piya Haria and Emily Grist ensured that in the last 3 overs 3 wickets fell for only 15 runs, leaving Redbourn with a final score of 230 for the loss of 5 wickets.

Stumpies will play the Cup final on 10th December for the second year running.

Stumpies will meet Redbourn in the Cup Semi-Final at 11 am whilst Potters Bar meet Letchworth at 12 noon. The Cup final will take place on Thursday 10th December. All games played at Choice Indoor Cricket School, Redbourn. Come and support the W&Gs!!

Top of the league and unbeated to date Stumpies played Hemel B, scoring 220 runs and taking 13 wickets. Willows also held on to their wickets to win by 5 runs against Letchworth. Indoor League 2009.

Willows were unable to overcome a rowdy crowd and hold their game in the last over to lose to Potters Bar. With availability tight,new players learned the art of indoor cricket in record time. Sue Benson led the scorebook with 23 runs. Kanchana Gamage & CBM opened the batting running 9 runs off the first ball taking advantage of sloppy fielding from the opposition. Unfortunately wides and accurate bowling in the last 3 overs prevented the final pair from adding any more than 10 runs. A brave effort!