Good luck England
Welcome to Super Saturday at Wimbledon. It has become a tradition to see high achievers from a range of sports spend a day in the Royal Box at the invitation of All England Lawn Tennis Club chairman Philip Brook, and to enjoy recognition as each is individually introduced to the Centre Court crowd by Sue Barker of the BBC.
It’s a ritual of mutual respect, a celebration of great British sporting talent in front of one of the most hallowed sporting stages in the world. In the year in which the Club celebrates its 150th anniversary, there was a nod to achievements past and absolutely present with Sir Bobby Charlton, a World Cup winner in 1966 - and in Barker’s despatch of the Centre Court crowd’s collective best wishes to the England team.
Standing up to acknowledge the honour were Lizzy Yarnold and Amy Williams, winter Olympic gold medallists in skeleton; boxing champions Nicola Adams, Carl Froch and David Haye; Paralympian skier Menna Fitzpatrick and guide Jennifer Kehoe; Wimbledon defending men's wheelchair doubles champions, Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett; Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill; Olympic and world breaststroke champion swimmer Adam Peaty, divers Jack Laugher and Lois Toulson, gymnast Nile Wilson and long-distance cycling record-holder and adventurer Mark Beaumont.
With accompanying video footage, the crowd relived thrilling moments aplenty in the presence of those who had created them, from Tommy Fleetwood, who shot the joint-lowest score in US Open history last month, Matt Kuchar, the American seven-time PGA Tour winner who also took bronze at the inaugural Olympic golf event in Rio, and Sergio Garcia who memorably landed his first major in an enthralling play-off at last year's Masters in Augusta.
Captains past and present earned a special group mention – cricketer Andrew Strauss, who led England to Ashes glory, rugby's Chris Robshaw, and JPR Williams, a Welsh rugby legend who just happened to be a stellar junior tennis player in the late 1960s.
Barry Davies, the veteran commentator whose deft verbal touches have lit up 10 World Cups, 17 Olympics and more than 30 Wimbledon Championships, stood up among those whose feats he has appreciated via the microphone.
And in tennis, a quartet who have led Britain’s Fed Cup and Davis Cup teams to major achievements: Judy Murray, Anne Keothavong, Paul Hutchins and Leon Smith.
It is 50 years since Open tennis began and it was in 1968 that Philip Brook’s two special guests won the singles titles at Wimbledon. A highlight of the ceremony was seeing these incomparable two, Rod Laver and Billie Jean King, shake each other’s hands at the front of the Royal Box.
And with tears pricking the eyes, the tribute that caused them to roll down cheeks: Sue Barker’s word for the Armed Forces. “Since the end of World War II, the Armed Forces, joined for the past 53 years by The London Fire Brigade, have provided volunteer stewards at The Championships,” she said. “Many of the military here today have served their country on operational duty all over the world, showing their professionalism and dedication in the most demanding of circumstances. We are honoured they are here with us today. Please show your appreciation for our stewards, all of the emergency services and all of today’s Royal Box guests.”