Kent’s club president for 2024 will become just the third woman to hold the role.

Judy Ufton has been a key figure around the club and the Kent sporting scene for many years, supporting her husband - the legendary late Kent wicketkeeper Derek Ufton, also a former footballer for Charlton and England.

The pair have two sons, Tim and Jonny, who played at Beckenham CC where Judy was heavily involved.

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.

She also worked with Dartford CC - her late husband’s local club - in running ‘Derek Ufton Day’ to celebrate his local cricketing connections that August.

In 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, she would accompany him to Kent and Charlton matches and remains an avid sports fan.

The couple’s home is in Elham, near Canterbury, meaning she has come to Kent matches where possible over the past few years.

Judy will succeed former England and Kent captain Chris Cowdrey on January 1, 2024.

During her term of office, Judy plans to champion the club’s efforts to increase engagement with former Kent players, reigniting the past efforts of Derek, who was a passionate advocate of the former players’ network.

She is a keen supporter of the Lord’s Taverners, with Derek having been national chairman of the cricket charity in 1990 and 1991.

Judy follows in the footsteps of 2022 president Yvonne Neame and Lady Kingsdown OBE, president in 2015 and 2016, in holding the role.