Somerset Women Cricket Players Gallery – Jackie Hawker

Born in Plymouth, Devon. Jackie was a diminutive but energetic bowler, middle order all-rounder, and an excellent fielder; frequently topping the fielding charts for Somerset.

In 1998 she captained England U17s, and was then selected in the U21 squad to tour South Africa in the same year.  She made her England debut in 1999 against the Netherlands.

Her only test match appearance came against India in Lucknow, during 2002.

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Somerset Women Cricket Players Gallery – Hannah Knight (nee Lloyd)

Born in South Wales. Hannah was selected for the England U17, U21 and U23 sides before making he debut for the full England side against the Netherlands in 1999.

Hannah was a genuine all-rounder, batting in the top order, and more than useful with the ball. She captained Somerset between 2002-08.

Hannah’s father was Barry Lloyd who played for Glamorgan in the 1970/80’s

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Fry’s Cricket Club – Club History

Fry’s CC may be one of Bristol’s oldest cricket clubs but it is not old by cricketing standards, only having been founded in 1872 as part of the Fry’s Sports and Social Club, as the Cricket section for employees working for the company.

The club was formed under the shade of a Hawthorn Bush in Pembroke Road, Clifton and was called Caracas Cricket Club, something the current team acknowledge on the badge of current Fry’s CC cricket shirts. Caracas was the name of the new cocoa JS Fry was making at the time.

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Kilmington & Stourton Cricket Club – Club History

Cricket has been played at The Park, Stourhead from at least the 1880s. There was an active team in Stourton in the 1920s and a successful team in the 1930s (we have several scorebooks from this time) and photos from the 1880s and 1920s.  We have no information about what happened in the 1940s and assume that the club may have folded for a few years at this time.

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Somerset’s Women Cricket Players Gallery – Kath Wilkins

Kath played Cricket for Somerset CCC, Somerset Wanderers CC, Bath CC and West of England. She also gained full International honours playing for England in the European Cup in Denmark in 1999. Kathryn also captained the England U21 squad and represented England ‘A’ in home series against South Africa, Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland. 

In recent years Kath has been involved in coaching the girls’ county age group teams at Somerset and Cricket Wales.

Audio version here

Date of Birth: 17 May 1976.

Where from: Bristol

How you started playing: Played at my local club Congresbury and then joined Somerset Wanderers when I was 14.

Start date- End date at Somerset – I represented the West (which preceded Somerset) from 1991 – 1999, Somerset was then our county and I played 2000 -2003 and was Captain for the first season 2000-2001

International performances – 3 England Caps

Did you Captain? I was the England U21 Captain, Somerset Wanderers Captain, Somerset Captain

Other Counties Played for – none

CompetitionWODIWFCWLA
Matches3268
Runs scored66521,174
Batting average22.0026.0022.15
100s/50s0/00/01/5
Top score2734*111
Balls Bowled1151083,146
Wickets4055
Bowling averages7.75–25.67
5 wickets in innings001
10 wickets in match–0–
Best bowling2/4–6/36
Catches/stumpings0/–0/–23/–

Somerset Women Players 2000 – 2024


Captains.


Kath Wilkins 2000-01

 Hannah Lloyd 2002-08

Steph Davies 2009-10

Moira Comfort 2011

Anya Shrubsole 2012-16

Sophie Luff 2016-22

Emily Edgcombe 2023-24


England Internationals.

 Caroline Atkins,

Sarah Collyer, 

Steph Davies,

Janet Godman,

Jackie Hawker,

Hannah Lloyd, 

Laura Harper,

Anya Shrubsole,

Frances Wilson

Katharine Winks

Lauren Filer

KSL* & Semi-Professional / Professional Player Era

Gwenan Davies

Lauren Filer  

Nicole Harvey (nee Richards)

Georgia Hennessy

Niamh Holland

Sophie Luff

Natasha Wraith


Overseas (Registered) Players

 Elwyn Campbell (Aus) 

Tamara Gould (NZ) 

Lizelle Lee (SA)

Magdelena Pokludova (CZE)

Isabelle Westbury (NHL)

Note. The appearance figures, and runs and wickets data identified below, are starting from the 2002 season. I have not currently been able to locate data from earlier years.

Most Appearances

> 100 Appearances> 75 Appearances> 50 Appearances
Sophie Luff (135)Lorraine Szczepanski (91)Nicole Harvey (nee Richards) (90)
Jackie Hawker (126) Moira Comfort (86)Lauren Shrubsole (69)
Lorraine Szczepanski (101)Jenny Withers (82)Beth Howe (62)
Anya Shrubsole (78)Georgina Adcock (62)
Frances Wilson (76)Cassie Coombes (60)
Georgia Tulip (53)
Steph Davies (52)

Highest Run Scorers

>4000 runs>2000 runs>1000 runs
Sophie LuffFrances WilsonAnya Shrubsol
Hannah Lloyd
Elwyn Campbell
Nicole Harvey (nee Richards)

Most Wickets

>100 wkts>75 wkts>50 wkts
Lorraine SzczepanskiJackie HawkerMoira Comfort
Nicole Harvey (nee RichardsAnya ShrubsoleLauren Shrubsole
Nicole HarveyKate Randall
Jenny Withers

All Somerset Women Players 2000 – 2024

Georgina Adcock 
Lucy Allison 
Coleen Ashbee
Lucy Ashman
Caroline Atkins
Vicky Ball
Emily Bayliss 
Alice Bird
Pauline Black 
Tilly Bond 
Lauren Bowen-Jones 
Sally Bradbury
Florence Broderick 
Elwyn Campbell
Zoey Cape 
Hannah Capes 
Olivia Churcher 
Carmen Clements 
Sarah Collyer
Moira Comfort 
Cassie Coombes 
GwenanDavies
Helen Davies
Emily Dibble
Steph Davies
Harriet Dimdore-Miles
Emily Divine
Evie Dixon
Emily Edgecombe
Morgan Edwards 
Jodie Filer 
Lauren Filer
Bernadette Forge 
Emily Geach
Laura Gladman 
Emma Godman 
Tamara Gould
Emma Hadfield
Sophie Hamilton 
Olivia Hamilton 
Laura Harper
Lola Harris 
Nicole Harvey (Richards)
Jackie Hawker
Poppy Hawker
Lily Hawkins 
Jess Hazell
Georgia Hennessy
Megan Hodkinson
Niamh Holland
Beth Howe 
Izzy Imlach
Daisy Jeanes
Neve Kennedy
Emily Knight 
Annabel Lamb
Lizelle Lee
Sophie Le Marchand 
Phillipa Letchford 
Hannah Lloyd
Sophie Luff
Ellie Mitchell 
Laila Moledina
Rebecca Odgers 
Ava Ojomoh
India Rose Owen
Lisa Pagett 
Anna Parkinson 
Emma Phillipson
Sophie Pickering
Magdalena Pokludova
Jennifer Poole
Kiri Purssy
Kate Randall 
Annie Riccio 
Jess Rice 
Gill Richards
Joleigh Roberts 
Emily Robinson 
Karla Rose
Katie Rowe
Anya Shrubsole
Lauren Shrubsole
Chloe Skelton
Jess Smith
Lesley Smith 
Hannah Sparks 
Ella Stewart
Lorraine Szczepanski 
Hannah Thompson
Liz Tilley 
Becky Travers 
Georgia Tulip 
Lucy Turner
Charlotte Voden 
Jenny Wallace
Gwyn West
Izzy Westbury
Sophia Westbury
Brooke Whittaker
Kathryn Wilkins 
Becky Williams
Hannah Williams 
Judy Wilmot 
France’s Wilson
Katharine Winks
Jenny Withers
Natasha Wraith

Grateful thanks to Mark Gladman for his research and provision of the above statistics

Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery. Jack Meyer

Rollo John Oliver (Jack) Meyer (15 March 1905 – 9 March 1991) founded Millfield School (1935) and was also an all-round sportsman who played cricket at first-class level in both England and in India. He died in Bristol on 9th March 1991.

The later stage of Meyer’s cricket career began after his return to England to set up Millfield School in Somerset. From the 1936 season, he played for  Somerset, almost always those in the second half of the season when the school term had ended and, with rare exceptions, those played at home. In these games, he played as an all-rounder, his batting having improved significantly since his Cambridge days. Against Lancashire at Taunton in the last match of the 1936 season, he scored his maiden century, an undefeated 202, scored in 225 minutes. As a bowler, he managed at least one five-wicket innings haul in each of the four seasons running up to the Second World War.

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Bath Wanderers Women’s Cricket Club – Club History

Jan Godman took over from Nicky Tranter (Boss) as Honorary Secretary of Somerset Wanderers Ladies Cricket Club (SWLLCC) in 1998. She was handed a 30 year legacy, which seemed to be a very daunting prospect as SWLCC, was a team renowned nationally.

As with most Women’s cricket teams then, the team ran on a shoe string, fundraising and applying for grants where possible. They played at various grounds including a few in Wiltshire. They were then given use of the Corsham Barracks pitch as a more permanent pitch to play their home games on.

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Obituary – Terry Willetts. Contributed by Richard Walsh.

West Country cricket is mourning the loss of Terry Willetts who played cricket for both Somerset and Cornwall who sadly passed away on October 24th at the age of 82.

Terry was born in Birmingham and on leaving school joined Avery’s who were known world wide for their weighing scales.

He was a talented all round sportsman excelling at both football and cricket. He appeared for Bristol Rovers Reserves, but turned idown the chance of a contract playing instead as a part timer with both Minehead and Bath City FC.

Terry played cricket for Weston super Mare where his talents were quickly recognised by Bill Andrews who recommended him to  Somerset, who offered him a contract which he duly signed.

He made his debut for Somerset Second XI against Gloucestershire in June 1960 at Clarence Park in Weston. Terry made two further appearances for the Second XI that year and played once more in 1961.

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Huish and Langport Cricket Club – Club History

There has been a cricket club in Langport since at least 1838, although it has had a chequered history. At some periods it was joined with Somerton, as the Langport & Somerton Cricket Club; at others with Curry Rivel, as the Curry Rivel & Langport Cricket Club, and since 1946 it has been known as the Huish & Langport Cricket Club. (Reference Langport Heritage).

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Harold Gimblett’s Hundred by John Arlott finds its way back home! – an Article by Richard Walsh

Bicknoller was his village, Harold Gimblett was his name

Farming was his working day, but cricket was his game.

When he was but twenty and first played for Somerset

He played the mighty innings that we remember yet.

Stogumber is the village where Jack White used to live;

But for cricketers in Somerset, that’s the name they give

To the fierce cross-batted stroke they will use for evermore,

Swinging it right off the stumps and past long leg for four…….

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Two cricket bats donated to the Museum

We are very grateful to Mr Garry Merrifield from Bristol and Mr Lloyd Shattock for their kind donations of bats to the Museum. Garry has sent us a bat (in memory of his Auntie Pat who took him to Taunton to watch cricket matches), autographed by the 1984 West Indies Touring Team including some Somerset CCC favourites and Lloyd has given us an SS Jumbo bat, once owned / used by Viv Richards.

Rexel Family Fun Day – 11th October 2022

“Stadium tours at Somerset County Cricket Club with families enjoying not only a superb look behind the scenes with our expert tour guide, but a chance to explore the best cricket museum in the country – Somerset Cricket Museum as well, and see some of the best historical cricketing items in the world including the bat used by Lord Ian Botham in the 1981 Ashes series. If you’re in the Taunton area it’s absolutely a museum you’ve got to visit.”

“Just one of the many highlights on our Rexel Family Fun Day yesterday”.

Snippet and Video courtesy of Sean Owens – Rexel.

Kidmore End Cricket Club and its unique relationship with Somerset County Cricket Club

The distinction of leading the first Kidmore End cricket team on to a field here fell to Henry Hamilton Palairet Esquire, who then lived at Kidmore House and was a member of an old West of England family renowned for its sportsmen. Fortunately for the cricket public of the country, he extended his love of cricket untiringly to the tuition of his two sons, Lionel and Richard, as soon as they could hold a bat. Both became great cricketers and all round sportsmen. Both played for Somerset and, to this day, Lionel still holds (with H. T. Hewitt) the record opening wicket partnership for that county, 346 against Yorkshire at Taunton in 1892.

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Kidmore End Cricket Club – 150 Not Out

1863 – 1900

It was in June 1863 that it was decided to found a cricket club in Kidmore End, or inKidmore as it was then known. The first meeting ever to be convened was held at the Schoolroom on 19th July of that year for the purpose of framing the club rules. Either the weather was kinder in those days or cricketers cared less about muddy wickets, but one of these rules laid down that the season should commence on the first Monday in April and end on the first Monday in October. A record exists of games having been played as late as 13th October. Practice was to be held on Monday and Friday evenings and the Club started its career with “4 bats, 2 balls and stumps, etc.” presented by the Vicar (the Revd J. W. Cobb).

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Kidmore End Cricket Club – Club History

The home of the Palairet Family – an appreciation written by Michael Hill (Somerset County Cricket Club) – July 1994.

The village of Kidmore End, a few miles north of Reading may seem an unlikely place to have a close connection with Somerset County Cricket Club. However the first captain of its cricket club, founded in 1863, was one Henry Hamilton Palairet, a talented all round sportsman, five times archery captain of All England and useful cricketer

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The ‘League of Nations’ and the Battle of the Shilling Ticket’

Article contributed by Paul Baker aka Farmer White

My father was a musician and a good one by the account of those who knew about such things. The consequence was that his entire sense of timing was applied to his music. He had none left for anything else. As a result we were late everywhere we went and for everything we did. Cricket was not spared. Not even Somerset cricket.

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James Hildreth – a personal appreciation by Richard Walsh

James Hildreth has been a permanent fixture near the top of the Somerset batting order for almost 20 years, but sadly he has played his last innings for the Cidermen.

Even though he wasn’t born in the county the fans have loved Hildy from the very first time he pulled on a Somerset shirt back in 2002 since when he has provided us with so many entertaining innings, but sadly there will be no more after he pulled up with a hamstring injury which has brought a premature end to his retirement season.

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21 years ago Somerset lifted C & G Trophy at Lord’s on that never to be forgotten day

Twenty one years ago on September 1st 2001, it seemed like the whole of Somerset were making their ways  up the M5 and along the M4 to Lord’s Cricket Ground to watch the Cidermen take on Leicestershire in the final of the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Trophy.

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Sir Viv Richards – Remarks v Glamorgan

A famous story is told of Sir Richards’ days, playing with Lord Botham, at Somerset when Glamorgan seamer Greg Thomas beat Viv thrice in three balls. Thomas, being cheeky, reiterated a description of the ball to Viv: “THAT’S CALLED THE BALL – IT’S RED, IT’S ROUND, AND WEIGHS ABOUT FIVE OUNCES; YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO HIT IT, IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING”.

Viv was fired up. He came down the track and smashed the next ball out of the park, some say it it went into the sea. He leisurely strolled down the pitch and threw a reply to Thomas: “GREG, YOU KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, NOW GO FIND IT.