Max Robertson

[David_86]

He was a BBC commentator at Wimbledon from 1946-86 as far as I can tell from his obituary on the BBC website. I'm wondering if here anyone remembers him.

[urban]

He was the voice of Wimbledon. In the 70s, when only semis and finals of Wimbledon were transmitted on tv across Europe, i often went for further coverage to the BBC 2 live radio broadcasts. The radio commentary by Robertson, the leading broadcaster, was very accurate, brilliant and alert. At the change-overs experts came in, including Fred Perry or Virginia Wade. I had the Wim final of 1977 on the radio copied, and always remember, that Borg "served a cracker" at 30-15 in the last game. I also remember, that Robertson always spoke of the 'ruler's end' and the 'royal box end', regarding the Centre Court. Later i learned, that he meant an old vehicle at one end of the Centre Court, around which somehow a gallery was built. Max also edited and wrote some books about Wimbledon and Worple Road; as an Aussie, he always revered Lew Hoad.

[hoodjem]

If he did Wimby matches on the BBC Radio in the early 80s, I heard him.

(I am still amazed at how "real" those matches seemed when being only described on the radio by a truly excellent comentator.)

[newmark401]

"I also remember, that Robertson always spoke of the 'ruler's end' and the 'royal box end', regarding the Centre Court. Later i learned, that he meant an old vehicle at one end of the Centre Court, around which somehow a gallery was built."

I think you might mean the "roller end". According to Lance Tingay in his book "100 Years of Wimbledon", first published in 1977, "There is a tradition that the Lawn Tennis Championships were begun to raise money to repair a pony roller. After one hundred years [i.e. in 1977] the same pony roller, albeit no longer hauled by a pony but in splendid working order, may be seen in a corner of the Centre Court at Wimbledon. It stays there not only because it is still in use but because it is too wide to be taken out through any of the exits."

The roller was used to smooth down the grass. I believe that it's not there anymore, though I'm not sure when it was removed. Then again, as you say, a construction of some sort might have been built around it, meaning it is still there though no longer visible.

Mark