Former England cricket Test star dies, aged 101

Canterbury’s oldest international sporting star has died aged 101.

Megan Lowe played test cricket for England and bowled for Kent and Middlesex either side of the war in the 1930s and 40s.

A teacher by profession, she was given time off work to tour Australia and New Zealand in 1948/49, when it took weeks to reach the southern hemisphere by boat.

She lived for more than 60 years in St Dunstan’s in Canterbury with her long-term partner Rita Hedley, who died several years ago.

Miss Lowe, who retired as a headmistress, celebrated her 100th birthday in 2015 with a visit from Kent cricketer Megan Belt, who presented her with a signed bat and shirt.

She also attended an English Cricket Board dinner for past Test players at Lords earlier this year, where she was presented with a velvet England cap.

During her international career, Miss Lowe took four wickets in Tests against Australia in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney before playing in the only Test of the tour against New Zealand in Auckland.

Speaking on her 100th birthday she said: “It is great to see the progress of the women’s teams. We were all amateurs and had to buy all our own kit without the specialist coaching and support the players enjoy today.

“It’s amazing to see all the training they do, particularly the strength and fitness work. I don’t know if I could have done it.”

Speaking of her tour down under, she added: “We loved the trip aboard the ship. I was granted six months leave from my teaching post. It was such an adventure and we were welcomed so warmly everywhere.

“We had a dinner with the Maharajah in Sri Lanka on the way and all the Australians and New Zealanders we met were very hospitable.”

Miss Lowe’s goddaughter, Laura Heath, said: “She really was a remarkable lady who continued to live at home and kept her sharp mind right until the end, always talking about current affairs. There was certainly no slacking around her.”

Miss Lowe’s funeral was held at Barham crematorium on Tuesday.

Megan Lowe was an England cricketer in the 1930s and 1940s

Picture: Chris Davey FM4110733 Megan Lowe was presented with an autographed bat and shirt when she celebrated her 100th birthday