11:39am Tuesday 29th June 2010
WE are fast approaching the Wimbledon finals and there is not a single Englishman or Englishwoman left in the tournament. In fact, by the second day of the competition, there were none left.
I shall make only a passing reference to that Scot, Andy Murray, and then drop the subject. I cannot comprehend how patriotic English people can pack the seats in Centre Court to cheer this grunting, snarling, lump of discourteous self-aggrandisement.
His wondering aloud whether to bow to the Queen or not was a disgrace. Anyone refusing to acknowledge the presence of Her Majesty should be sent for a spell in the Tower of London. The Wimbledon authorities should send him to a ladies’ finishing school to learn his manners.
I can understand why people cheered Tim Henman. It is, after all, a supreme English virtue to love a cheerful loser – when it comes to tennis, it’s all we ever have – but that anyone would pay good money to be near this Murray specimen is beyond belief.
Why can’t we produce a Wimbledon winner?
It can’t be lack of financial resources.
Even in these straitened times, England is still a comparatively rich country. Besides, there are plenty of SW19 champions from nations a darn sight poorer than we are.
I do remember the glorious Virginia Wade, daughter of an Archdeacon no less, winning the ladies’ singles in 1977, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year. Perhaps a home-grown genius with a racquet will emerge to win in her Diamond Jubilee in 2012?
I honestly don’t think our players lack for skill or stamina, and they practise as hard as any foreigner. There are good amateur tennis clubs all over the country and we’re told that facilities are improving all the time. Is it something mental then – a question of the flesh being willing, but the spirit weak? I don’t think that’s the answer either.
Could it be a lack of courage? No. There have been lots of courageous British tennis players. Tim Henman certainly didn’t lack guts, and even Murray has courage enough.
I think it goes deeper. It’s a matter of English character. We have this habit of never being ready, temperamentally, for the struggle.
Such victories as we do achieve tend to have that desperate, last-minute effort about them.
And it’s not only in tennis. Recall all those last wicket stands that have delivered cricket salvation in the form of unlikely drawn games.
It’s not even only in sport where this is the case. Legend has it that in 1588 when the might of the Spanish Armada was sailing up the Channel, Francis Drake was still engrossed in his game of bowls.
And this year marks the 70th anniversary of one of our greatest triumphs. In 1940 we stood alone against the Nazis and, as Churchill said, Hitler knew if he was to break us in these islands he would first have to destroy the RAF. The climax of the Battle of Britain was September 15, 1940 and Churchill was in the ops room with Air Chief Marshall Hugh Dowding. “What reserves have we?” asked Churchill. “Stuffy” Dowding replied: “We have none, sir.”
We won that one, but it was damned close.
I still have hope that some great tennis-playing patriot will arise and deliver that present of the Wimbledon Championship to the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee.
■ Peter Mullen is Rector of St Michael’s, Cornhill, in the City of London, and Chaplain to the Stock Exchange.
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