Tuesday 24 January 2017 08:53, UK
Former England cricket captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint has died at the age of 77 after a short illness.
The news was confirmed by Wolves, the Championship club where lifelong supporter Heyhoe Flint was once a director and remained as vice-president until her death on Wednesday morning.
Her son, Ben Heyhoe Flint, said: "We're deeply saddened by the passing of Mum, and yet we're filled with immense pride as we now look back on her achievements in government, cricket, football, charity and community on which she had such a profound influence.
"She tackled all of the above at full speed, showing us how grace, a cheeky sense of humour - and tenacity - can break glass ceilings. We hope that we all can continue the legacy that she leaves behind."
Born in Wolverhampton in 1939, Heyhoe-Flint was for years the most recognisable face of women's cricket and led England to World Cup glory in 1973.
In retirement, she became the first woman elected to the full committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club - the sport's law-makers - and was inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame in 2010.
That was just one of many honours as a 1972 MBE was followed by an OBE in 2008 and, three years later, a life peerage.
Clare Connor, the ECB's Director of Women's Cricket, said: "This is overwhelmingly sudden and sad news. It is hard to find the words to fully pay tribute to Rachael. She was so special, so ever-present and now she has gone - but her impact can never be forgotten.
"Rachael was one of our sport's true pioneers and it is no exaggeration to say that she paved the way for the progress enjoyed by recent generations of female cricketers."
Heyhoe Flint combined all these roles with her involvement at Molineux, where she worked in public relations under Sir Jack Hayward's ownership and served on the board between 1997 and 2003.
Wolves managing director, Laurie Dalrymple, said: "Everyone at Wolves is deeply saddened to hear the news that Rachael has passed away. She was a wonderful lady who meant so much to so many people at the football club, in the city of Wolverhampton, and also much further afield.
"Rachael's contribution to the world of sport, the local community, and in later years politics, cannot be measured, and neither can her seemingly never-ending kindness and generosity of spirit.
"Her best friend Sir Jack helped ensure that Wolverhampton Wanderers were able to benefit from her boundless energy, enthusiasm and unquenchable desire to improve people's lives."
