Publisher's Synopsis
From humble beginnings in a small Lancashire village to travelling around the world by ship (twice), Joan Wilkinson led an extraordinary life, for a women living in a time where sporting ability was reserved mainly for the male gender and those from a more privileged background. Her love of sport and obvious talent saw her excel and become one of the leading sportswomen of her day. Joan 'Wilkie' Wilkinson was a very private person and the extent of her experience and career remained hidden until her passing in 2002. Following her death, her sister Hazel, found a large hoard of memorabilia saved by Joan and their father. What came to light, whilst going through this archive, was the story of Joan and the amazing life she led. A story this modest woman didn't speak of, other than with her father; who shared her passion for sport and was exceptionally proud of her accomplishments. She was a shining example of what could be achieved through sheer grit and determination (with a lot of talent thrown in). Despite circumstance and gender she reached the pinnacle of her sporting career, playing for England Woman's Cricket Team on two world tours in 1948/9 and 1957/8, pushing herself forward, never taking 'no' for an answer. She was a truly inspirational woman.
