CLARISSA PILKINGTON, who died on Sunday 7  February 2010, was  a Past President of both the Leinster and Irish Womens' Cricket  Unions, and a mainstay of the womens' game in Ireland for many years.

A cricketer from early childhood, born in Northern Ireland Clara Bertha  Crawford , but always known as Clarissa, she was instrumental, while an undergraduate at Dublin University, in founding the DUWCC, women students having previously played for Dartry. They were not allowed to play in College Park, so did so at Trinity Hall, then the womens' hall of residence.  They benefited from the coaching and support of Irish left armer  NB "Sonny" Hool and won the Leinster League in 1947, 1949 and 1951.

Clarissa was a good batter, a skilful slow left armer and a brilliant fielder, who attracted the admiration of the young Derek Scott, "I wish I could field like that", he thought.

She was  a leading player in the Irish Womens teams of the 1940s and 1950s, but, unfortunately, records were not kept and her performances, though remembered by those who saw them, have gone largely unsung.

Her work, she was for a number of years Warden of Trinity  Hall , meant that for a while cricket took second place, but  in the 1960s she was back encouraging the game at all levels, particularly the national side, schools, and the reborn University Club which was soon able to play in College Park.

Besides her spells as President, she held executive positions in both unions and was adept at fostering, and organising  sponsorship for, trophies and competitions at all levels of the game throughout the whole country.

Gaining full coaching qualifications with the help of Noel Mahony, the IWCU's first official coach, she coached and played for the University side until well into her sixties, attracting the gratitude and admiration of all, not just her own charges, who came into contact with her.

She will  be greatly missed and fondly remembered.  The words of Cecilia Joyce, as part of a 1996 tribute, are as appropriate  now as then, "Her face is one I cannot separate from women's cricket in  Ireland ." 


                                                                                                                                                         Edward Liddle