R Phillip: Lord's remains a Jurassic park (29 Aug 1998)

29 August 1998

Lord's remains a Jurassic park

By Robert Philip

THE membership of the MCC - average age 57, average mentality stuck somewhere around 57 BC - is to vote again on the issue of whether to admit women into their men-only ranks.

On Feb 26, 56 per cent of the 17,500 members voted to accept their cricket-loving sisters into the Long Room, a few 'ayes' short of the necessary two-thirds majority and the committee deserves praise for trying to overturn 211 years of antiquated tradition a second time in 209 days.

And all the signs suggest the revolutionaries will achieve the necessary swing come Sept 28. Sir Paul Getty, who cast a 'no' vote six months ago, spoke for many when he said: "I had not fully appreciated how this issue impacts on the MCC's public role. I have now changed my mind."

But a (relatively) youthful acquaintance is less hopeful of the outcome. "A lot of the old duffers like to see women at Lord's. They like to see them serving behind the bar and working as waitresses."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)