Trustees, supporters and friends of the London Playing Fields Foundation will be saddened to learn of the passing of Virginia May who died on 6th July aged 91. A distinguished three-day eventer in her younger days, Virginia is survived by her daughters Suzanne, Nicola, Annabelle and Tessa.
Virginia and her family had a special place in the story of the Foundation through her support for the Peter May Memorial Appeal, established in memory of her husband, the legendary England cricket captain and Chairman of Selectors, Peter May.
Launched in 1996, and supported by luminaries including Lord Bramall, Lord Prior, Sir Tim Rice and Sir John Major, the Appeal raised £2.5million to be used as match funding for applications to the Sports Lottery. The Appeal played a massive role in enabling the transformation of the former Inner London Education Authority site Wadham Lodge Sports Centre in Walthamstow into what became a regional base for the development of cricket.
With the blessing of Virginia and her family, the centre was named in Peter’s honour and the £5million Peter May Sports Centre was officially opened on 6th June 2000 by the then Minister for Sport Kate Hoey MP (now the Foundation’s President). The centre became more than just the Foundation’s flagship ground. It also demonstrated how links with commercial partners (in this case a health and fitness operator), could provide a way of making playing fields sustainable. None of this would have been possible without Virginia’s enthusiastic support for the Peter May Memorial Appeal.
Having taken part in the turf cutting ceremony with the then England captain Nasser Hussain in July 2019, Virginia knew that the facility would go on to develop generations of talented cricketers. But even she could not have imagined that three years later the ground would produce one of England’s greatest ever football captains, Harry Kane. So, it was entirely fitting that when the new 3G artificial football pitch was formally opened in March 2016, Virginia shared the honours with Harry. It was a wonderful occasion where Virginia’s knowledge and passion for sport was obvious for all to see.
Alex Welsh, LPFF Chief Executive said “In remembering Virginia May, the Foundation acknowledges the enduring contribution that she and her family have made to generations of sports people whose lives have been enriched through playing on the pitches and practice nets at Peter May Sports Centre. It is a fantastic legacy and a lasting tribute to one of England’s finest cricketers.”
