BARONESS Rachel Heyhoe Flint, who died suddenly last week at the age of 77, is fondly remembered in at least one corner of Herefordshire.

Rachel, one of the great names in women’s cricket who captained the national side from 1966 to 1978 and never lost a game while she was in charge, brought the England team to Canon Frome for a fundraising match back in June 1975.

“She was a lovely lady and great fun,” recalled Brian Goode, who captained the Canon Frome side that day.

“But they were a very good team, too, and beat us by eight wickets. It was a big fundraiser and we shared £500 with the England team’s tour fund – a lot of money back then.”

A copy of the Peter Manders caricature of that day had pride of place in Rachel’s office in Wolverhampton, as she pointed out in a tribute written for Canon Frome’s 50th anniversary booklet in 1988.

“I can recall a delightful rural ground surrounded by an electric fence which gave one of our fielders a cheap thrill every time she had to climb into the cows’ field to retrieve the ball,” she wrote. “My lasting memory of Canon Frome is that of a super friendly club, lovely warm welcome, delicious match teas and a handsome cheque for the England Women’s Cricket Tour funds.”