Military stewards at Wimbledon have described managing the tournament's champagne-drinking crowds as "hard work," comparable to supervising junior soldiers. Corporal Mustapha Adams, 40, from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, said his experience with squaddies helps him control the spectators, some of whom try to get onto the courts. "You get people actually… telling you off, they are like on you!" he said. Adams, who is from Ghana and volunteering for the third time, added: "Some do not understand, some do understand but intentionally they want to get through."
Champagne corks and heat pose challenges
Corporal Gillian Craig, 33, from the RAF Police, said the most unruly aspect is champagne corks. "Especially with the heat, people try to be quiet and stuff so what they'll do is they'll take the foil off of it and then they'll just hold it. They've got to hold it for two games and the heat does not hold it, so when it goes and it pops, you just see people panicking," she explained. Despite this, she noted she has "never seen any trouble" and crowds are "generally very, very well behaved."
Military stewards mark 80th anniversary
This year's championships marks the 80th anniversary of military stewards at Wimbledon, a tradition starting in 1946 after Armed Forces members helped manage crowds as the venue recovered from Second World War bombing. Around 500 personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force are on hand each day across the two-week tournament. All use annual leave to volunteer.
Volunteering a key recruitment draw
For Cpl Craig, who swapped drama teaching for a military career at age 28, the chance to volunteer at Wimbledon was a key reason for signing up. "I joined specifically for this! I'll be dead honest about that," she said. Able Seaman Michelle Rowlands, 45, in her third year as a steward, said she would love her submariner son to join her. "My oldest left the Army literally a month ago and then my youngest is a submariner. I would love him to come and do this with me," she added.
Heat illness prevention and standing ovation
The stewards identified heat as the biggest challenge, with warm temperatures expected to rise. Cpl Craig, who has deployed to 32 countries, said they conduct heat illness prevention training and hand out free suncream and extra water. "We have had to spring into action," she said. Before the first match on Centre Court on Saturday, there was an annual standing ovation for the military stewards. Dozens stood on court to applause from the 15,000-capacity stadium. Cpl Craig said: "I cry every year, it's so overwhelming." AB Rowlands added: "It's special, it makes us feel appreciated."
