Happy New Year!

This is a picture of the fantastically named Betty Snowball, who played cricket for England (as well as squash and lacrosse for Scotland).

In February 1935 she set the world record for the highest individual innings in women’s Test cricket, scoring 189 runs in 222 minutes against New Zealand.  Her record wasn’t surpassed until 1986 (by former Indian cricket captain, Sandhya Agarwal) but it remains the highest Test score by an English woman.  Betty was born in 1908 in Burnley, Lancashire.  Following her cricket career, she became a PE and Maths teacher in Hertfordshire.  Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack describes her as ‘one of the major figures of women’s cricket for two decades from 1930’.

Although Betty doesn’t really qualify as a woman with Brighton or Hove connections I wanted to mention her in the run-up to my next round of women’s history walks as my brand new tour around Hove will start close to the Sussex Cricket Club Ground.  Sussex Cricket Club started life in 1839 and is the oldest in the UK.  I thought it would be a good moment to remember the achievements of a formidable woman cricketer from the past.

I’ve almost finished plotting out my brand new ‘Notorious Women of Hove’ walk and have been surprised at how many incredible women with links to Hove there are to talk about.   From some of Britain’s first women doctors and suffragettes, to social campaigners, founders of national charities and pioneering entertainers.  Maybe a cricketer or two.  During the last three years I’ve done walks around Brighton and Kemptown and many people have said ‘surely there must be some Hove women to talk about’.  I’ve found enough to fill several hours.  Hopefully by the time May comes around I’ll have been able to narrow the information down a little bit.  Do join me!  Dates below…

Notorious Women of Hove Walks

Saturday mornings during the Brighton Fringe Festival 2016… 30th April, 7th, 14th, 28th, May, 4th June at 10.30 for 1.5 hours.

Tuesday evenings 17th, 31st May at 18.30 for 1.5 hours.

Meet St Ann’s Well Garden Café, Nizells Ave, Hove, East Sussex BN3 1PL

Price £7.50/£6.50.

Book with Brighton Fringe http://www.brightonfringe.org/?gclid=COGviLjOg8oCFUYTwwodpDID0Q, or just turn up.

Notorious Women of Brighton Walks

Sunday mornings during the Brighton Fringe Festival 2016… 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th May, 5th June for 1.5 hours.

Tuesday evenings 3rd, 10th, 24th May, 2nd June for 1.5 hours.

Price £7.50/£6.50.

Meet at St Nicholas Churchyard, Dyke Road, Brighton BN1 3LJ

Bookings… as for Notorious Women of Hove.

These walks, as well as ‘Notorious Women of Kemptown’, are also available for private group bookings outside the Festival.  Contact me on historywomenbrighton@outlook.com to find out more or discuss your requirements.

I hope to see some of you in May!

 

 

 

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