Esther’s present to club she loved

Esther Evelyn Shakeshaft (nee English), died aged 104 on February 18.

She was a Kenilworth member in the 1930s and was part of the Kenilworth Ladies side that played at the club’s Warwick Road ground in that era.

Born in 1908, Esther was keen sports woman, and was a talented wicket keeper.

She was selected to be part of the England Ladies squad to tour Australia in 1939 but was deprived of the chance to represent her country due to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Esther lived in the town for many years before moving to the Salvation Army’s Youell Court residences in Coventry in her latter years.

Kenilworth club president Gordon Went and secretary Roger Mortimore attended her memorial service in Coventry on March 4, where they learnt that Esther had bequeathed £1,000 and left a framed photograph of the 1936 Kenilworth Ladies team to the club.

Committe member Andy Smith said: “These are heartfelt gifts from someone that obviously had the club at heart after all these years, although few of us knew of her or her connection with the club. Her picture will be displayed in the clubhouse.

“Some club members did get the opportunity to meet Esther in person, following our fire in 2006 that destroyed our old clubhouse once it became widely known and covered in the press.”

Andy has submitted the photograph of the Kenilworth Women’s Cricket Club side in 1936.

The players’ names are: (back row) Stone, Underwood, Reigate, Haynes, Maughan and Wright; (front row) Turner, Wetton, Sansome (Capt), Esther Shakeshaft (nee English) and Plant.

Andy added: “We are presuming they were all ‘Miss’ at the time.

“It would be nice to know what happened to the other ladies.”

If you can help contact the club on 01926 853872.