Edith R. Clarke

Edith R. Clarke, often known as E. R. Clarke, was an English sportswoman and physical education teacher who died in 1985. She captained the English national teams in both hockey and lacrosse, and was also noted for her skills in athletics, tennis, swimming and dancing. After training at Dartford College from 1904 to 1906 she joined its staff in 1911 as a games coach and gymnastics teacher, and she later taught physical education at Roedean School. She was chosen for the South of England hockey team for the 1909 to 1910 season, played for the English national team from 1911 to 1914 and captained it in 1919. In 1921 she travelled to the United States with her teammate Helen Armfield to help develop women's hockey there. She served on the first council of the Ladies' Lacrosse Association in 1911, on the inaugural committee of the Women's Cricket Association in 1924, and from 1920 as one of His Majesty's Inspectors of Physical Education for England and Wales.