Another Wimbledon gone and we look back longingly to Virginia Wade’s 1977 victory in Silver Jubilee year 30 years ago. She was ending her career and at her 16th Wimbledon attempt she beat Betty Stove 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the final, having defeated the favourite Chris Evert in the semi-final. She is the last British woman to win the singles title. Since 1981 she has been a regular BBC commentator. She believes the media’s interest in young British players, who are successful in the early rounds, puts intolerable pressure on them and wishes that they could be excused interviews until they have won three rounds. She also thinks the British should lower their expectations of getting another champion soon. “There’s this preoccupation with having a Wimbledon winner rather than getting six or seven players into the top 100,” she says. Virginia Wade is 62 today. RGT
James Aldridge, author, 89; John Arkell, headmaster, Gresham’s School, Holt, Norfolk, 1991-2002, 68; Tony Baldry, MP, Minister of State, MAFF, 1995-97, 57; Stephen Bell, economist, 54; Professor Lord Desai, economist, 67; John Dunlop, racehorse trainer, 68; Sir Thomas Farmer, chairman, Kwik-Fit, 1984-2002, 67; Sunil Gavaskar, cricketer, 58; Professor Norman Hammond, archaeologist, 63; Professor I.A.M. Lucas, Principal of Wye College, London University, 1977-88, 81; Dr John Mack, Professor of World Art Studies, University of East Anglia, 58;Sir Kit McMahon, chairman of Midland Bank, 1987-91, 80; Sir Michael Newington, Ambassador to Venezuela, 1985-87, 75; Dr John Parnaby, engineer and businessman, 70; Lord Roberts of Conwy, Minister of State in the Welsh Office, 1987-94, 77; Sir John Shaw, Governor, Bank of Scotland, 1999-2001, 75; Gavin Strang, MP, Minister for Transport, 1997-98, 64; Josephine Veasey, opera singer, 77; Ian Wallace, actor and broadcaster, 88.