YCCC President, ex Yorkshire & England batter
The visit by the first ever female YCCC President was something of a relaxed affair. Born in Sheffield, Jane’s manner reflected her roots – warm, friendly and down to earth, and her long-time pals in attendance added to the atmosphere. It was a fabulous meeting.
Her historic elevation to the Headingley position almost a year earlier was the culmination of a life immersed in sport, not just cricket, Her recollection of the invitation issued over the phone by BaronessTanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL, herself a GB wheelchair racer, typified Jane’s professional instinct and her enthusiasm which she kept in check …briefly.
“I was shocked! You would never consider an invitation like that being offered and I needed to consider other points of view. It was very important to clarify in my own head what I could and needed to bring to the role at that time.
“A reasoned response was required so I asked if I could give it some thought and get back, and Tanni agreed. I gave it an hour at best and accepted!”
With the political skies over YCCC so dark and destabilising the choice of President was of the utmost importance. Enter the First Lady. Her parting words to us were, “I am here to represent you, and to remind you that YCCC and its teams are going back to the top”
* Read more about Jane’s talk in the 2025 Yearbook.