In July I reported on a visit to Colwall Cricket Club in Herefordshire and was attracted by this plaque on the club pavilion. At the time I promised there would be more about Betty and here it is. To any fans of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, I can only apologise for any disappointment.
Elizabeth Alexandra Snowball was born in Burnley in 1908 and played cricket for England and squash and lacrosse for Scotland, The Scottish connection came through her father, a doctor and Betty was educated in St Andrews and later at Bedford College of Physical Education, now part of The University of Bedfordshire. After qualification she taught at St Swithun's School in Winchester, a school with a strong sporting tradition. Among its alumnae are the philosopher Mary Warnock and the radio presenter Fi Glover.
Betty was encouraged to play cricket by her father and for a time, and I assume this was in his Lancashire league days, she was coached by Learie Constantine. She made her test debut at Brisbane in 1934 and played her tenth and last at The Oval in 1949, statistics which illustrate the paucity of women's test matches at that time. Her greatest achievement was in scoring a century at Christchurch NZ in 1935 when she made 189. No slouch either for the runs came in 222 minutes. That score remained a record in women's cricket for over fifty years.
After her cricketing career Betty moved to Colwall where she taught Mathematics and coached cricket at The Elms School in the village. She died in Colwall in 1988, aged 80. The plaque is no more than such a distinguished cricket deserves. There are some further photographs of her opening the batting for England with Myrtle Maclagan including one at Stanley Park Blackpool in Cricket Archive. Her obituary appears on page 1214 in Wisden for 1990.
Betty Snowball 1908 to 1988
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