Kent Cricket have announced that Judy Ufton will be the Club’s President for 2024, becoming the third woman to hold the role in the Club’s history to-date.

Judy has been a key figure around the Club and the Kent sporting world for many years supporting her husband and Kent legendary wicketkeeper, the late Derek Ufton, who also played football for Charlton Athletic and England.

The pair have two sons, Tim and Jonny, both of whom played at Beckenham Cricket Club where Judy was heavily involved.

During her working life, Judy served in a variety of commercial roles in banking and the motor sectors. In the later years of Derek’s life, Judy would accompany him to both Kent Cricket and Charlton matches, and remains an avid sports fan.

The couple’s home is Elham near Canterbury, meaning that she has been ever-present where possible at Kent matches over the past few years.

Judy is a keen supporter of the Lord’s Taverners, with Derek being National Chair of the cricket charity in 1990 & 1991. Judy was the first secretary of the Lady Taverners in 1987 and has served as a Regional Treasurer for the Lord’s Taverners.

In Kent, the Lord’s Taverners hosts Super 1s disability cricket, activity regularly taking place across the county supported by Kent Cricket’s Community Team, amongst other efforts to help improve the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through the vehicle of cricket.

After Derek’s passing in March 2021, Judy worked closely with the Club to organise a service of Thanksgiving of Derek’s life and career at Canterbury Cathedral in February 2022, with readings including likes of former Kent captain Matthew Fleming.

She also worked with Dartford Cricket Club, her late husband’s local club, in running ‘Derek Ufton Day’ to celebrate his local cricketing connections in August of that year.

Judy will succeed Chris Cowdrey as the Club’s President on 1 January 2024. During her term of office, Judy will champion the Club’s efforts to increase engagement with former Kent players, reigniting the past efforts of her late husband, Derek, who was a passionate advocate of the former players’ network.

Picture supplied by Kent Cricket.