The Long Standing Relationship Between Wimbledon and The Military

From being left badly damaged by German bombing during the war to military volunteers working as stewards, Wimbledon and the military have a long-standing relationship.

It even turned its grounds into a small farmyard with pigs, hens, ducks, geese, rabbits and a donkey to assist the war effort.

The club still supports the Military today.

Last year Wimbledon’s Ticket Resale Scheme, whereby tickets no longer required by spectators leaving the Show Courts are re-sold to other spectators, raised £346,000.

Part of the money, raised by the resale scheme, was donated to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club grounds men also support 'One Man Went To Mow' which is a volunteer team who help with the upkeep of the Wimbledon Village War Memorials.

In May, it was announced that The Ticket Resale Scheme will again be supporting military and emergency services benevolent funds in recognition of the role their personnel play at The Championship.

The Wimbledon Championship starts July 2nd.

Fun Wimbledon Facts and Figures!

• The All England Club marks its 150th anniversary this year
   
• 2018 also marks 50 years of Open tennis, half a century of the Duke of Kent being president of the AELTC, and 125 years of the ladies' single championships.
   
• 54,250 tennis balls are used during the championship period. New balls are distributed after the first seven games and then after every nine games.
   
• 34,000 kilograms of English strawberries were consumed at the tournament last year. More than 166,000 portions of the classic Wimbledon treat we served up to guests along with more than 10,000 litres of fresh cream.
   
• 303,000 glasses of Pimm's were knocked back over the two weeks - as well as 21,000 bottles of champagne and 110,000 pints of draught beer and lager.
   
•  0 plastic straws will used at the Championships this year.
   
•  2,195 kilograms of bananas were consumed by the players last year, and 4,235 portions of pasta.~
   
• 40 miles of string is used on rackets. On average more than 2,000 rackets are strung by the stringing team during the tournament.
   
•  A £2,250,000 million prize awaits this year's Wimbledon single's champions. The figure marks a 2.3% increase on the prize money in 2017.
   
• 290 million tennis balls could fit into Centre Court with the roof closed. Wimbledon's premier court boasts 14,979 seats, with a maximum capacity of 15,000 people.
   
• The total attendance at Wimbledon in 2017 was 473,372 across 13 days.