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Before the global pandemic I took the Stop Bowel Cancer Bear and his Reindeer cousins to The All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon. I contacted my friend Matthew Crawcour, Head of Championships Operations, who I also played cricket with at Knowl Hill CC, and I asked for a big favour as I was working in the area, and he totally came through for me.

My hope was to get a few minutes there to grab some photos with the toys. However, fortune was on my side as by chance Matt had a little time and gave me a full tour of the site. It was absolutely fascinating going behind the scenes, and listening to Matt talk about the amount of work that goes on all the year round, the millions of pounds that Wimbledon contributes to the LTA each year, and the exciting plans that are coming up over the next few years, which includes an expansion of site to include outdoor courts on part of the golf course adjacent to Wimbledon. There is currently a major two year construction project underway to build an underground car park with indoor courts on top of it.

We began the tour in centre court, the most iconic court in world tennis. I hadn’t been here since the early 1980s and on that occasion I managed to get a standing view in the old No.1 Court, so this was my first time in centre court. I took some photos with the scoreboard and Royal Box in the background. The grass was already making a great recovery from the wear and tear of Wimbledon, and Matt explained how heat and light was used over the winter to keep it in the best shape. Interestingly the biggest threat it faced was from foxes and the acidity of their wee! I thought Centre Court was magnificent. It just oozed atmosphere and history, and the setting for so many famous tennis ,matches over the years. I got some great photos there…

• The Stop Bowel Cancer Bear is raising awareness about bowel cancer which we lost mum to, and which is the second highest cancer killer in the UK. All proceeds raised from sales are donated to Bowel Cancer UK.
• The Love Hope Strength teddy and the #14 Reindeer are supporting the Love Hope Strength charity co-founded by Mike Peters of The Alarm. It’s a charitable foundation whose purpose is to raise funds and awareness in order to benefit people with cancer and leukaemia. It would make an idea Christmas gift.
• Poodolph the Bowel Cancer Reindeer is also supporting Bowel Cancer UK, and raising awareness about bowel cancer. Another great Christmas gift idea.
• The kickasskell teddy bear is raising funds for Cancer Research UK with proceeds donated tp the fundraising fund set up by the family of Kelly Smith who died in 2020.

If you buy one of these cuddly animals you can take them on your own adventures – the possibilities are endless. Not only are you helping raise funds, but raising awareness in a fun way.

We then went cross to Number 1 Court. On my visit in the 1980s to the old Number 1 Court I saw John McEnroe play Vitas Gerulaitis. This court is rather different and mightily impressive. Matt told me that the players use a tunnel to get to there from the changing rooms. I got to see where the players get changed, the physio room, the room where they eat and where they can relax. They do not seem to want for anything these days.

We went to the broadcasting area, and the TV studios. Although the BBC have the UK television rights, everything is now under the control of Wimbledon. The famous studio from which Sue Barker hosts the BBC coverage is a permanent fixture, and the chaps were keen to have their photo taken there.

From there we went to see where the players had their post match interviews with the media. In fact the press work from pretty workstations, where they are able to watch coverage from every court.

I can’t thank Matt enough for his help. I had only sent him a message a few hours earlier on the off chance, and to make it happen and so very memorable was amazing, and very much appreciated. It’s also a brilliant way to publicise the reindeer and bears, and very importantly help raise awareness. Check out all the items in the rivers2.com shop.