Sawt Falasteen - 'Love it': Wimbledon's military stewards tradition turns 80

Active personnel from the army, navy and air force have been helping out annually since the aftermath of World War II, with the arrangement a quintessential part of the world's oldest tennis championships.

This year they number around 500 -- featuring as many women as men -- and take care of everything from checking tickets and guiding spectators to their seats to ensuring that peace and quiet prevails on-court.

Dave McGarr, 48, an army captain who has served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Sierra Leone, has been offering his services at Wimbledon for 13 years and is now one of two officers overseeing the stewarding operation.

"I like the excitement," he told AFP, as the only grass court grand slam tournament got underway this week in southwest London.

"When the grounds start to fill up, you can hear the buzz and everyone's getting excited," he added.

Alongside their formal roles, the legions of military stewards also obligingly take hundreds of photos for guests immortalising their day at the hallowed championships.

Their only weapons here: politeness and a smile.

The stewarding tradition began as Britain emerged from WWII.

Military personnel helped secure the Wimbledon site after it was bombed during the conflict, and in 1946 organisers invited them back for the tournament's resumption, McGarr explained.

It was "to say thank you, essentially, and then it's just continued ever since," he said. "Now, it's part of the fabric."

- 'Good mood' -

Daniel Thornton, who serves in the Royal Navy, is volunteering at Wimbledon for the first time.

"I loved it," the 42-year-old said after his first day at the tennis. "Everyone's in a good mood."

The military stewards must use annual leave days, but Thornton -- who only joined the armed forces three years ago -- had no issue using up two weeks on the experience.

He has watched tennis on television since childhood but had never set foot inside Wimbledon's grounds.

He manned Centre Court on Monday as Serbia's Novak Djokovic won in four sets. A day later, Thornton was back on the celebrated court for the remarkable comeback of American legend Serena Williams.

For Thornton, the excited crowds are among the highlights, noting that as a naval serviceman "you don't interact on a daily basis" with people to anywhere near the same extent.

For McGarr, his supervisory role sees him mainly in an office these days, but he has plenty of good memories from the courts.

"I was part of the Centre Court core intrusion team, which is like the only people who (are) allowed on the court apart from the players," he recalled.

Responsible for ensuring nobody intrudes onto the grass, "you're on the TV a lot," he explained, remembering his phone would constantly buzz with messages "because everyone can see you on national TV". London

Every year, Wimbledon marks Armed Forces Day -- which takes place on the last Saturday each June -- with the Centre Court crowd giving the military stewards a standing ovation before the day's first match.

"The cameras pan round all the service personnel and it gives you goosebumps actually when everyone's clapping and cheering," said McGarr. "Even the royal box."

B.Mahmoud--SF-PST