Elsie returns to Wimbledon aged 88!
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Life-long tennis fan Elsie Brown – who contributed to the war effort by operating a huge crane lifting aeroplane engines for Sir Frank Whittle – sees her dearest wish come true this week when she returns to Wimbledon after more than 10 years.
Bluebird Care customer Elsie, 88, still listens to every match on the radio and relates tales of watching every Wimbledon throughout her long and colourful life.
She last visited Centre Court in the 1990s – and has vivid memories of John “You cannot be serious” McEnroe in his heyday, back in the early 80s.
Her anecdotes struck a chord with Joy Grant, owner of Bluebird Care’s office in Rugby and South Leicestershire, who wrote to Wimbledon in a successful bid to secure some complimentary tickets – not available on the open market.
Now Joy will accompany wheelchair-bound Elsie, from Lutterworth, Leicestershire, to Number One court at the famous tennis tournament on Friday (June 25).
Joy, who has run her care-at-home business in Market Street, Lutterworth, since 2008, said, “When I wrote to Wimbledon, I explained that Elsie was the most wonderful person, who had during the war operated a huge crane lifting aeroplane engines for Sir Frank Whittle at the Lutterworth factory. She loves sport, in particular tennis, and relates stories of watching every Wimbledon throughout her life. Sadly, her eyesight is failing but she still listens to matches on the radio.
“She was so excited when she heard that I was going there this year – as she loves the atmosphere - and I really wanted to take her with me, but my tickets were not suitable for wheelchair access. So I wrote to Wimbledon and when they replied, I couldn’t wait to tell her.
“When I broke the news, I have never seen anyone more happy and surprised – she just held up the tickets to her eyes and cried. She said it was the best thing that could happen and that she would keep them under her pillow. When I spoke to her daughter, Amanda, she insisted that I take Elsie myself. We will be taxied there by two Bluebird Care care workers, Greig and Vicky Wright – which Amanda was very happy about as her mother is in a wheelchair.
“I am sure Elsie will have a lovely day and I am so grateful to Wimbledon for arranging the tickets.”
