A major annual two week binge watch trigger time
I always have, still do & always will just love everything about it.
- The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club history & tradition since 1877
- Men women / singles doubles mixed/ junior senior & wheelchair competitions
- Green grass & white lines/ players white kit / purple green club colours
- x 18 tournament courts / Aorangi Park x 22 practice courts
- Sound = the ball off the racket / applause & encouragement of the crowd
- Centre court = ivy clad / hawk-eye replay screen / roof / 14,979 seats
- No. 1 Court = living walls / hawk-eye screen / roof / 11,432 seats
- BBC tv = past players commentaries & Radio 5 live coverage / tv hawkeye
- Thousands of fans milling around & smiling, happy chatter & Henman Hill
- x 13 other courts / can get so close to the players / £ Gift shop / museum
- Food court / strawberries & Pimms / beautiful hanging baskets / green ivy
- teams of umpires linesmen & women
- Ballboys & girls
- the orderly queue for daily tickets
- Wimblefriends annual holiday in tents
- the Royal Box
- Hawkeye screen
- Rufus the Hawk
- player challenge points
- Rolex court clock
- grounds club colours hanging baskets
- 2019 is the 133rd Wimbledon Championships
- a wonderful rollercoaster ride
My tennis family
My mum & Dad met at and played for the local Bolton Walker’s Institute tennis club and me & brother Martin followed in our parents tennis footsteps for our love of the game and the value of being a member of a tennis club … Me / Martin / Mark & Claire and Kim / Danni &Jo … we are all connected .
My words … As a schoolgirl I was tennis team captain of Canon Slade Grammar School & helped my P.E teacher coach the younger (& older!) girls. I played for our local Green Lane tennis club & enjoyed mixed doubles with my Dad in the Bolton league which was largely played on red shale courts so mum’s washing machine took a hammering. My summer holidays were spent at the tennis club practising & playing. Every year I entered the Bolton Charity Tournament held in the evening on Bolton School’s courts and won various singles & doubles titles. I also entered the annual Lostock tournament which doubled up as a tennis youth club for a week. I was in the Lancashire junior training squad and had an early taste of indoor tennis & video playback. As a P.E.student I went to Edge Hill Teacher Training College & played for my college team against other North West Colleges & in the annual British College Championships & was pleased to be asked by my lecturer to coach our college players. I spent my summer holidays earning £ money running school children’s summer school programmes at beginner / improver & advanced level. I also enjoyed being part of a team of coaches who were training Cheshire juniors in various sports for a week long summer camp held at Crewe & Alsager College … I was in charge of the tennis side & put video playback into my programme which went down very well although I got sunstroke & shoulder pain holding the heavy camera into position for too long! I went to Lillishall National Sports Centre of Excellence for a week long indoor/outdoor training programme and played in Eastbourne on the Devonshire Park grass courts. As a young P.E teacher at Oldershaw School I was frustrated at not being able to teach tennis because we had no courts on-site so I put my tennis energy & coaching enthusiasm into running annual summer schools across Wirral. Every Tuesday evening was spent playing in the Wirral Tennis League 1st Division … I started at Neston LTC and over the years migrated to other clubs including Upton, Bertram & Hoylake. I became adept to playing on different surfaces = grass, artificial grass, all weather hard, indoor but no shale … the other major difference being to the Bolton League was a salad after for the team post match meal instead of meat pies & pasties ! I was proud of the fact that whichever club I played ladies or mixed doubles for I was always top couple. I loved mixed doubles best for its more attacking style of play and was also proud of being British National Parks mixed doubles winner. Whichever tennis club I was at I always enjoyed the challenges of different playing conditions in summer, winter, indoor, floodlight head to head competitive matches & always entered the annual singles / ladies & mixed competitions winning many trophies & prizes . As my ability to cope with the stress of competitive tennis diminished I especially enjoyed helping my goddaughter Danni develop her tennis skills, knowledge & psychology of the game. I spent many hours hitting with her & liked taking her to training sessions or tournaments and was very proud of her as she progressed up the junior ranks of Hoylake tennis club, Wirral league junior & senior matches, Cheshire County at junior & senior level and National junior ranking events.
Martin’s words … Tennis has been a big part of my social life ever since I first picked up a racquet aged 11 or 12. I played for my school team and was lucky enough to play at Wimbledon a couple of times in the Seventies in a national schools competition. I played other racquet sports when younger – table tennis and badminton – but they gradually fell by the wayside unlike tennis. I’ve played first division tennis in my local league (the Bolton Sports Federation) for a number of clubs for over 40 years. In my twenties I also played twice at Queen’s Club in a national club competition. The sport has taken me to numerous countries. I have played in Spain,Germany, Sweden and a particular highlight was playing in the World Police & Fire games in New York in 2011. I have also been fortunate enough to win multiple national titles in the annual British Police tennis championships over my long police career,in both mens & mixed doubles.I play regularly in the Lancashire County championships and have done well over recent years,winning titles in age group mens singles, mens doubles & mixed doubles. I also represent Lancashire at over 55 level. The team has excelled in recent years,and we have been British County champions for the last 3 years. It’s not all about winning though, and I have thoroughly enjoyed playing tennis win or lose for nearly 50 years (!). I have made many friends through the sport and it has kept me fit. I don’t ever see me stopping playing!
Claire’s words … I started playing tennis when I was around 4 years old, at my Dad’s local club, Markland Hill. I loved the group sessions and would look forward to every Saturday morning because of them. When I was around 7 years old, my parents were advised that I had the potential to be a good player and to therefore take me to another club, South Ribble, for further solo coaching. At South Ribble I progressed as a player and went on to win county tournaments, represent Lancashire nationally, and attend national training schemes. Through these opportunities, I was lucky to meet lots of interesting people and visit places in the UK that I otherwise wouldn’t have. Tennis also allowed me to be creative and taught me independence, focus and determination, which I believe has continued to help me as I’ve grown up and progressed into a career in medicine. It was also the start of my journey to learn how to stay calm in stressful situations, which I’m glad to say I’ve improved at massively in more recent years! I was extremely lucky to have an unconditionally loving and supportive family throughout the experience. Despite having to stop playing competitive tennis at 11 years old due to injury, I continue to enjoy watching it (especially Wimbledon) and playing socially with friends and my Dad. And like everyone else in my family, my favourite player is Roger Federer!
Mark’s words … Loved the Wimbledon section. Didn’t realise how much it meant to you. Crazy how much history our family has in the sport. Shame Djokovic had to win this year … Dad was so gutted.
Such Special Times
Was just amazing & exciting in equal measure !
FAMILY & FRIENDS … such special times shared together. We always got centre or No 1 court middle Saturday tickets through our tennis clubs because as teachers we couldn’t go through the week. So on Friday we would go by train from Liverpool to our London hotel . Saturday early a.m. sightseeing then off to on Southfields train to Wimbledon to soak up the atmosphere before the big matches of the day began. Then our day got even better as we went to the theatre in the evening for our collective theatre musical of choice which included Blood Brothers, Cats, Evita, Les Mis, The Phantom of the Opera & The Lion King over the years shared with :
- my brother Martin / Oldershaw Head of Girls P.E. Linda (who played junior Wimbledon) & Bertram tennis club best pals
- me & Kim
- Kim Danni & Jo for the men’s final
- Kim’s mum Pauline, Danni & Jo
My Lovely Mum
MUM … Mum also loved Wimbledon. For x2 weeks every year after Dad died we had daily chats on the phone about which matches we had watched, anticipating & predicting who would go through tomorrow. We would try & watch the men’s final together either I would drive to Bolton & go for local pub lunch & sit in the conservatory part which overlooked the x2 court tennis club where my mum & Dad met !!! Sometimes I would bring her over to my house for the weekend & we would go for early doors meal @ our favourite Parkgate Marsh Cat restaurant. In her later years this became increasingly difficult but we always kept up the daily phone chats between our Bolton & Wirral homes.
Oldershaw School
Every Wimbledon brings back many very fond memories of teaching tennis. We had no on-site courts so I formed a partnership with our local club Wallasey Manor which had x6 hardcourts which were underused during the day. Our pupils did not have any previous knowledge of or expereince of playing tennis so it was a challenge to give them a crash course in a few weeks of every aspect of the game I love … keyskills/shots/rules/scoring system ! The other issue was pressure of time because in x1 hour the pupils had to get changed & walk 10 mins to the tennis club & 10 minutes back so in reality each lesson was x30 minutes only !!! The advantage was that I only took those who had opted to choose tennis & any misbehaviour on route or at the club resulted in an immediate ban which worked a treat . When the weather was too wet I devised an indoor sportshall programme with short rackets, & sponge balls on a badminton court. The other backup plan if their lesson was in the afternoon I would find a classroom that was free with a television& watch it live on . Examination Year 10 Year 11 to GCSE level & 6th form A level counted for 10% of their overall Physical Education final grade & also was externally moderated so it was important to me to find a way that worked on many levels. I also did an after school club for those interested in playing & improving their skills & game especially during Wimbledon fortnight. .. they were buzzing about tennis & started watching it after school at home and even a few joined the tennis club which gave me such joy.
Loss & Acceptance
Now I have finally accepted that actually ever going to Wimbledon again in the future between my knee & my bipolar it is impractical & unrealistic and that is just fine because I am where I am now … in my den watching it all unfold day by day … moment by moment & sharing tennis texts with Jackie & Claire.
I still miss my mum & Tess but this year I managed to watch & enjoy every daily tv p.m. live match and all the finals with at last a happier heart & fond memories of good times we have all shared together.
History & Heritage
Known as The Championships, Wimbledon it is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. The first tournament was in 1877 and was hosted by the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. It is the only major Grand Slam which is played on grass = lawn tennis which is an offshoot of indoor ‘real tennis’. The ist championships was just men’s singles & had a crowd of 200 who paid one £shilling. The final was postponed due to rain and was played x3 days later. In 1884 the Ladies singles & men’s doubles events were added. The original trophies are housed in the museum … men = Field Cup / Ladies = Rosewater Dish / Doubles = Challenge Cup. £ Prize money was introduced in 1968 also the same year the club allowed professional players to compete for the first time. In 2007 £ Prize money became equal. 19th century tennis fashion was plain white long sleeved shirts & trousers for men and full-length corseted white dressed & hats for women. In the 1930’s players began to experiment with their clothing … shorter skirts, shorts & sleeveless tops .. Fond traditions are strawberries & cream / white dress code / strong ties to the Royal family / Gentleman’s & Ladies singles
Wimbledon Map
Facts & Figures
- Attendance = 473,169 across 13 days
- Ball boys & ball girls = 250 from 1,000 entries
- Yellow balls = 53,000/stored at 68F/new balls every 9 games/48 tins on Centre & No 1 courts
- Broadcast = 11 ‘manned’ & 7 ‘robotic’ camera courts
- TV viewing = 26 million
- Grounds capacity = 39,000 spectators
- Charity = £406,000 raised from Ticket Resale scheme
- Centre court capacity = 15,000 / No. 1 =
- Roof = 10 minutes to close / 100 tonnes
- Fastest serve 2018 = men Raonic 147 mph / women = Serena Williams 125 mph
- Food & Drink = Strawberries & cream 165,000 portions / Champagne = 22,000 bottles / Pimms = 303,277 glasses
- Flowers = 50,000 plants supplied
- Centre court walls = Boston Ivy / Parthenocissus Tricuspidaca Veitchii
- Rufus = the Harris hawk / weekly visits through the year to deter pigeons / (.00 a.m daily for x1 hour before gates open
- longest match = 2010 Court 18 over x3 days / John Isner beat Nicolas Mahit 70-68 in 5th set !
- Matches = 675 during the fortnight
- Players = 790 (including qualifying)
- Media = 3,250 press / broadcast / photographers
- Racket stringing = 2,000 rackets = 40 miles of string
- Staff = 6,000
- Umpires, Chair & Line = 360
BBC TV Commentary Team
- Sue Barker
- Clare Balding
- Tim Henman
- John McEnroe
- Andrew Castle
- Pat Cash
- Martina Navratilova
- Boris Becker
- John Lloyd
- Tracey Austin
- Annabelle Croft
- Todd Woodbridge
- John Inverdale
Grass
Rye grass.Balance between offence & defence. Chip and charge. power play. fast tempo & pace.Big serves.Shorter points.proactive play . net play.Risk & reward. Harder to defend on . Need to be pro-active. Different tactics to hard or clay courts.
Living Walls
Welcome addition to No. 1 Court two outer walls on either side of the big screen on Henman Hill & is part of the AELTC commitment to biodiversity. Spans a total area of 245 sqm with 14,344 plants. The shrubs, perennials & annuals reflect the puple, green & white Wimbledon logo colours. They are automatically irrigated with atate of the art technology. Martyn Falconer (Head gardener) brief was ‘England Garden & Tennis’ and the nature watch ers enjoy gold finches nesting in it and bees close up doing their work. Players comments include how amazing, peaceful, green & colourful they are appreciated by all because we are a proud nation of gardeners.
The People
- the players
- knowledgeable crowd
- umpire
- linesmen & women
- ballboys & girls
- physio & first aiders
- Players box = family , friends & tennis team
- Royal Box = Royal family / tennis legends / sports stars / celebrities
- armed forces stewards
- reporters
- cameramen
Sounds
- quiet please
- umpire
- silence before each serve
- players grunts
- crowd applause
- crowd oohs & aahs
- ball on racket strings
- linesmen & women line calls
So Inclusive
- men’s singles
- ladies singles
- men’s doubles
- ladies doubles
- mixed doubles
- Under 18 boys singles
- Under 18 Girls singles
- Quad wheelchair singles
- Quad wheelchair doubles
Roger Federer … our family favourite
Born in Basel Switzerland and currently ranked 3rd in world tennis. Age 37 years and began playing at age 8. He has won x20 Grand Slam singles titles & hold a record number of 8 Wimbledon titles. He is a family man and has x2 sets of twins boys & girls. He founded the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003 which has contributed £28 million in educational programmes in Africa & Switzerland reaching out to 650,000 children. We, mere mortal tennis players just love his effortless style / grace, elegance, serenity, his on court presence, off court demeanour, his feel & touch / his racket arm being twice the size of his left! … those soft hands at the net & that majestic single handed backhand … a living legend.
Key Days
Day 1 = Centre Court opening match with previous champion
Day 6 = Middle Saturday = Super Saturday / Centre Court = Royal Box sports stars / standing ovation from crowd /for forces stewards / Red Arrows fly past
Day 8 = Manic / Magic Monday … 4th round / x8 men & x8 women singles matches/junior boys and girls singles
Day 9 = Tuesday … Ladies Quarter finals
Day 10 = Wednesday … Men’s Quarter Finals / Quad wheelchair
Day 11 = Thursday … Ladies semi finals
Day 12 = Ladies singles final / Men’s doubles final / Ladies doubles final
Day 13 = Men’s final / Mixed doubles final
2019 Innovations
- No. 1 Court roof
- No. 1 Court Living walls
- 12-12 tie break in final set
Wimbledon 2019 … My Way
- Morning work at my desk researching Wimbledon
- Morning visit to www.wimbledon.com
- Morning work creating my Wobbly World / July … Wimbledon webpage
- lunch time break in kitchen / my garden courtyard listening to 5 live radio coverage
- afternoon relax in my den watching BBC tv matches & excellent commentary team
A Special Championships
I really enjoyed every step in many ways but most of all because I didn’t cry once and it brought back fond memories of happy Wimbledons … yes I had some flashbacks & wobbly moments but there were so many positives. I spoke proudly to people about my two tennis families and the Wimbledon bond we share together. I managed to watch Manic Monday for the 1st time ever since my breakdown in 2004… potentially such a trigger time for me because I was actually manic and very unwell that week in school unravelling daily … so to ride that particular rollercoaster was wonderful. What excellent finals we were treated to with Simona Halep / the pocket rocket thrashing Serena Williams / the amazon warrior ! Then Novak Djokovitch 12-12 tie break final set epic dramatic win over Roger Federer!
2019 … My Wellbeing Wimbledon