Erica Roe

Erika Roe (born 1957), also known as the Twickenham Streaker, is remembered for a topless run across the pitch of Twickenham Stadium during an England vs. Australia rugby union match on 2 January 1982. It has been described by the BBC as "perhaps the most famous of all streaks."^[1] Roe, who later attributed the inspiration to alcohol, ran onto the field during half time, exposing her 40-inch bosom.^[2] Roe and the friend who joined her streak (Sarah Bennett)^[3] were corralled by police officers on the field, one of whom covered Roe's chest with his helmet while leading her off the field.^[4]

While Roe was not the first or the last streaker at an athletic event, in 2007 The Independent of London declared that her "memorable" streak made her a suitable icon to represent all such streakers in their article on sports interruptions.^[5] The event prompted Manchester Confidential to dub her "the most famous British streaker."^[6]

Roe's continuing notoriety saw her appear on the nostalgic British TV programmes After They Were Famous (1999) and 80s Mania (2001).^[7][8]

She was working at that time in a bookstore in Petersfield, Hampshire, but moved with her husband and children to Portugal to become an organic farmer of sweet potatoes.^[4]

In December 2014, at the age of 56, Roe released a topless calendar in support of breast cancer research in memory of her sister who died from the disease; the photographs for the calendar were shot by her daughter, Imogen.^[9]

In March 2016 she appeared as a contestant on series 3 of "The Island with Bear Grylls".^[10]

See also

• Public nudity
• Streaking

References