As the end of the school year arrives, staff and coaches at the Warwickshire Cricket Board would like to say a big �?thank you’ to all the teachers we have worked with in schools this academic year. This half term alone, WCB coaches have delivered programmes in 76 schools across Birmingham and Warwickshire. It has been a challenging year for everyone but, thanks to great team-work with teachers, we have been able to get children back enjoying cricket in school.
The WCB team would like to say a special �?Thank You and Happy Retirement’ to primary school teacher Mrs Mamie Kelly, who is retiring this week after 33 years teaching at Bentley Heath Primary School in Solihull. Mrs Kelly has been a huge supporter of cricket in Bentley Heath, and Solihull generally, during her long teaching career. She has not only been involved in delivering WCB and Chance to Shine programmes in school but has established a culture of cricket at Bentley Heath through lunchtime sessions in the playground, support for the cricket after school club, and incorporating cricket into literacy and numeracy work in the classroom.
In particular, Mrs Kelly has inspired many girls to pick up a cricket bat and ball, and to develop a love of the game. Two such former pupils, ten years apart, are current Warwickshire and Central Sparks fast bowlers Liz Russell and Issy Wong. Mrs Kelly is a regular supporter of the Warwickshire Women and Central Sparks (her daughter Marie also plays for both teams). When Liz Russell and Issy Wong bat together, Mrs Kelly can be heard on the boundary shouting. “Come on, Bentley Heath!”
In 2017 and 2018, Mrs Kelly helped with research for the Chance to Shine reading books; “Class 10’s Chance to Shine” and “Alex & The Cricket Ninjas”. Her input on classroom life and delivering Chance to Shine programmes in schools was invaluable, and she quickly became established in the story as the main characters’ teacher – Mrs Kelly!
Back in the real world, Mrs Kelly’s class drew the cricket-themed illustrations for the inside covers of “Class 10’s Chance to Shine”. The book launch for this title was held at Bentley Heath Primary School, attended by former England player James Taylor. Typically, Mrs Kelly prepared her Year 5 class thoroughly for James Taylor’s visit, with a classroom session beforehand about his recovery from a serious heart condition. She linked the session into the theme of resilience, famously telling her class, “Don’t ask him his favourite colour or what he had for breakfast!”
Danny Maskell, WCB Schools Manager, pays tribute to Mrs Kelly’s contribution to cricket in primary schools during her 33 years at Bentley Heath Primary School. “We are fortunate at WCB to enjoy the support of so many teachers across the County. Mamie Kelly epitomises the great partnerships we can build with supportive teachers. We wish her well in her retirement and thank her for the fantastic work she has done to promote the enjoyment of cricket to hundreds, if not thousands, of children during her career.”
Enjoy your retirement from teaching Mrs Kelly and congratulations on 33 great years as a teacher, promoting cricket in Bentley Heath Primary School and Solihull. Thank you and best wishes from everyone at the Warwickshire Cricket Board. We’ll see you on the boundary watching cricket soon!
