Clare Ratcliffe: Age, Career, Husband and Family Life
Meet Clare Ratcliffe, the British dance and cheerleading coach married to England cricketer Ben Stokes. Learn about her education, professional work, marriage, children and public life.
Introduction
Clare Ratcliffe is a British cheerleading coach. Many people know her as Ben Stokes’ wife. But she has her own professional background, too.
She has studied dance and primary teaching. She also works in cheerleading and holds official company positions.
Her married name is Clare Stokes. She married the England cricketer in 2017. They have two children together.
So, who is she beyond cricket? Her education and career tell more of the story.
Clare Ratcliffe Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Clare Stokes |
| Birth name | Clare Ratcliffe |
| Date of birth | October 1989 |
| Age | 37 years (November 2026) |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Dance and cheerleading coach |
| Education | BA Honours in Dance |
| Teaching qualification | PGCE Primary Teaching |
| Husband | Ben Stokes |
| Marriage date | 14 October 2017 |
| Children | Two |
| Children’s names | Layton and Libby |
| Coaching organisation | Hartlepool Hawks |
| Business association | BAS Promotions Limited |
| Business roles | Director and company secretary |
| Country of residence | England |
Who Is Clare Ratcliffe?
Clare Ratcliffe is known through cricket. Her husband is England international Ben Stokes.
Still, her background goes beyond that connection.
She has academic training in dance. She also holds a primary teaching qualification. Her coaching work is publicly documented.
Hartlepool Hawks lists her as a coach. UK company records confirm her business appointments.
These details tell a clearer story. She has professional qualifications and responsibilities of her own.
Early Life and Background
Clare was born in October 1989. Official UK company records confirm the month and year.
She is British and lives in England.
Her family has connections with Somerset. The county later hosted her wedding.
Her early childhood remains largely private. Public information about her upbringing is limited.
Instead, her educational qualifications provide a clearer picture of her background.
Those qualifications point toward two interests. One is dance. The other is teaching.
Both appear in her professional profile.
Education and Qualifications
Education forms part of her career.
Hartlepool Hawks publicly lists her academic credentials.
She holds a BA Honours in Dance. This qualification reflects formal dance education.
She also holds a PGCE Primary Teaching qualification. The PGCE prepares graduates for teaching work.
Her coaching qualifications are more specialised.
They include BGU Level 1 Cheerleading Coach certification and advanced BGU qualifications in jazz, pom and lyrical dance.
She is listed as first-aid trained, too.
These are documented qualifications. They support her work within youth dance and cheerleading.
Clare Ratcliffe’s Professional Career
Dance and Cheerleading Coaching
Clare works with Hartlepool Hawks. The organisation runs cheerleading and dance activities.
Its coaching faculty identifies her as Clare Stokes.
Her qualifications cover several dance styles. These include jazz, pom and lyrical dance.
Coaching young performers takes practical skills. Sessions involve learning routines and practising movements.
The organisation’s published coaching information confirms her involvement.
An October 2026 academy update also identified her as the coach of Sparkles, an under-six pom dance team.
That provides a recent public example of her coaching work.
Teaching Background
Her education also includes primary teaching.
She holds a PGCE qualification. This is recognised within British teacher education.
Published accounts have described her as having worked in teaching.
Her complete teaching employment history, however, has not been established through official public records.
Her confirmed academic qualification remains the clearest information about this part of her background.
Business Role at BAS Promotions Limited
Clare also has a documented business connection.
She is an officer of BAS Promotions Limited. The company was incorporated in October 2013.
Companies House lists her as company secretary. Her appointment began on 9 October 2013.
She later became a director. That appointment began on 6 April 2023.
Ben Andrew Stokes is another director.
The company is registered in England. Its listed activity covers business support services.
These appointments are official public records. They confirm her company roles.
Clare Ratcliffe and Ben Stokes
Their relationship began before his biggest cricket achievements.
Ben became a father in 2012. The couple became engaged in 2013.
By then, cricket was already central to his career.
Playing professionally brings long periods away. International tours can last several weeks.
Family life continued alongside that schedule.
The couple remained together through his growing cricket career. They married in October 2017.
Their relationship later attracted more public attention. Ben became one of England’s most recognised cricketers.
Clare occasionally appeared alongside him at important events.
Clare Ratcliffe’s Wedding
The couple married on 14 October 2017.
Their ceremony took place in Somerset. The venue was St Mary the Virgin Church in East Brent.
Several well-known cricketers attended.
Guests included Joe Root and Alastair Cook. Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler also attended. Paul Collingwood was present, too.
The ceremony lasted about 40 minutes.
The couple posed for photographs afterwards. News organisations covered the wedding that weekend.
The event became a public milestone. It also marked a new chapter in their long-term relationship.
Husband: Who Is Ben Stokes?
Ben Stokes is an international cricketer. He represents England and plays as an all-rounder.
He is known for powerful batting. His bowling has also contributed to major victories.
His career includes memorable international performances.
One came during the 2019 Ashes. His unbeaten 135 helped England win a remarkable Test match at Headingley.
Following that match, Ben publicly praised Clare.
He spoke about her support during difficult and successful periods.
His comments gave fans a glimpse of their family relationship.
Clare Ratcliffe’s Children
Clare and Ben have two children.
Their son is named Layton. Their daughter is named Libby.
Layton was born in 2012.
The children have occasionally appeared in public family coverage.
In August 2019, Clare and the children joined Ben during the Headingley Test.
Ben later discussed the importance of family support.
He explained how life at home helped him manage cricket’s demands.
The family generally keeps its everyday personal life away from extensive public coverage.
Family Life and Public Attention
Being married to an international athlete brings attention.
Cricket tours take players overseas. Major matches also attract worldwide audiences.
Clare has appeared at sporting events. Her husband has mentioned her in interviews.
Yet her own public appearances are limited.
Her professional coaching work offers another picture of her life.
She has qualifications in teaching and dance. She also holds company responsibilities.
Those details are supported by public records rather than online rumours.
The Family’s 2024 Burglary
The family faced a frightening incident in October 2024.
Burglars entered their County Durham home. Ben was in Pakistan on cricket duty.
Clare and their children were inside.
Several valuables and personal belongings were stolen. These included Ben’s OBE medal.
Fortunately, nobody suffered physical injuries.
Ben confirmed the incident publicly. He expressed concern for his family’s wellbeing.
Police investigated the break-in, and news organisations reported an arrest in November 2024.
Public Appearances and Media Coverage
Clare has appeared in cricket-related news coverage.
Her wedding received wide media attention. Sports journalists also covered family appearances.
The 2019 Headingley Test brought another moment.
After England’s victory, Ben thanked her publicly. He recognised the support she had given him.
The comments received national coverage.
She was also photographed at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in December 2019, when Ben received the main award.
Her appearances tend to relate to family occasions and major sporting events.
Career and Life Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Born in October |
| 2012 | Son Layton born |
| 2013 | Engagement to Ben Stokes |
| 2013 | Appointed company secretary of BAS Promotions Limited |
| 2017 | Married Ben Stokes in Somerset |
| 2019 | Received public recognition from Ben after his Headingley Ashes performance |
| 2023 | Became a director of BAS Promotions Limited |
| 2024 | Family experienced a burglary at their County Durham home |
| 2026 | Listed as a Hartlepool Hawks coach |
What Does Clare Ratcliffe Do Now?
Her current public professional information includes coaching and company work.
Hartlepool Hawks lists her among its coaches.
She has qualifications in several dance disciplines. Her profile also confirms her teaching qualification.
Companies House records list her as an active director and company secretary.
Those are the clearest details available about her professional activities as of November 2026.
Final Thought
Clare Ratcliffe is more than a familiar name in cricket news.
She has studied dance and teaching. Her coaching work is publicly documented. Her business appointments are official, too.
Her marriage to Ben Stokes brought attention. But it does not tell her whole story.
She is also a coach and mother.
Much of her personal life remains private. The available records still tell us something useful.
Her education and work stand on their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Clare Ratcliffe?
Clare Ratcliffe is a British dance and cheerleading coach. She is married to England cricketer Ben Stokes.
2. How old is Clare Ratcliffe?
She is 37 years old as of November 2026. UK Companies House records give October 1989 as her birth month and year.
3. Who is Clare Ratcliffe’s husband?
Her husband is Ben Stokes. He is an England international cricketer and all-rounder.
4. When did Clare Ratcliffe get married?
She married Ben Stokes on 14 October 2017. Their wedding took place in East Brent, Somerset.
5. How many children does Clare Ratcliffe have?
She has two children with Ben Stokes. Their names are Layton and Libby.
6. What is Clare Ratcliffe’s profession?
She is listed as a dance and cheerleading coach. She also holds official company positions at BAS Promotions Limited.
7. What are Clare Ratcliffe’s qualifications?
She holds a BA Honours in Dance and a PGCE Primary Teaching qualification. She also has cheerleading and dance coaching credentials.
8. Where does Clare Ratcliffe work?
Hartlepool Hawks lists her as a coach. Companies House also records her company secretary and director appointments at BAS Promotions Limited.
