Colwall Cricket Club celebrated the centenary of women's cricket last weekend with a 1920s-themed party, complete with swing music, vintage cars, and a women's softball competition. The club also unveiled a new heritage display in the clubhouse, marking its role as the birthplace of organised women's cricket.
A Tradition Rooted in 1926
The tradition began in August 1926, when a group of women's hockey players travelled to Colwall for a cricketing holiday. They stayed at the Park Hotel, owned by Mollie Scott-Bowden, and enjoyed three days of cricket. Before leaving, they discussed how to make cricket more accessible, leading to the formation of the Women's Cricket Association (WCA) a month later.
The WCA ran English women's cricket until 1998, organising the first public women's match in 1929, the first female internationals in 1934-35, and the first Cricket World Cup in 1973. Meanwhile, Cricket Week has continued annually, with women returning to Colwall each summer to play for five days.
Celebrating the Centenary
The centenary celebrations included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new heritage display, attended by England legend Enid Bakewell, aged 85, who danced the Charleston. The display features historical figures such as Frances Heron-Maxwell, the first WCA chair, and Betty Snowball, England's first wicketkeeper, who moved to Colwall and died there in 1988.
Gemma Nurser, Colwall CC's communications lead, said: "The clubhouse is quite male-dominated, so we've been really desperate to show that female presence, and also recognise the history that is associated with Colwall: 1926 is where it all began with the Women's Cricket Association being formed."
A Haven for Players
Cricket Week remains a welcoming space for players of all abilities, with participants coming from far and wide. This year's players included Ingrid van der Elst from the Netherlands, who played in the 1982 World Cup, and Coral Handley and Veronica Savage, who have attended for 50 years. Traditions like Fancy Dress Friday continue, with past costumes including Spice Girls and an inflatable Mr Blobby.
One attender said: "When you go to Cricket Week you're in a safe, supportive and inclusive bubble, insulated from the outside world." Another added: "Once you've been to Cricket Week you're part of an incredible family, and always will be, long after you stop playing."
Looking to the Future
While the quality of cricket has decreased over the years, with only four teams this year compared to a peak of 16, organisers see it as a festival of cricket and friendship. Carole Cumino, attending since the mid-1980s, said: "We're at a sort of watershed now. But it feels like talking to people, there is enough will to want to keep it going, because they really value it."
