Heyhoe-Flint receives freedom of Wolverhampton

The former England women's cricket captain, Baroness Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, has been granted the freedom of Wolverhampton, in recognition of her "eminent" services to her home city and to sport.

Heyhoe-Flint, who is also a vice-president of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, was presented with a scroll and casket at a ceremony in the city centre, and declared she was “thrilled to bits” with the honour.

She first came to prominence as captain of the England women’s team from 1966 to 1978, during which time she led them to victory in the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1973. She then became the first woman to sit on the MCC general committee, and is now a director of the ECB.

"I am really thrilled because all that I've done in Wolverhampton, I've done because I've loved doing it - helping all the various charities,” she said at the ceremony, which was led by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett.