Franchise owner makes Wimbledon wish come true

A life-long Wimbledon fan, 88 year old Elsie Brown will visit this year's tournament thanks to a Bluebird Care franchise owner. A Bluebird Care customer Brown, who listens to every match on the radio and relates tales of watching every Wimbledon throughout her life, last visited Centre Court in the 1990s.

This year Brown is able to visit Wimbledon after Joy Grant, the franchise owner of Bluebird Care Rugby and South Leicestershire, wrote to the organisers and secured some complimentary tickets for the Number One court, which are not available on the open market.

Grant said: "When I wrote to Wimbledon, I explained that Elsie was the most wonderful person, who had during the war operated a huge crane lifting aeroplane engines for Sir Frank Whittle at the Lutterworth factory. She loves sport, in particular tennis, and relates stories of watching every Wimbledon throughout her life. Sadly, her eyesight is failing but she still listens to matches on the radio.

"She was so excited when she heard that I was going there this year - as she loves the atmosphere - and I really wanted to take her with me, but my tickets were not suitable for wheelchair access. So I wrote to Wimbledon and when they replied, I couldn't wait to tell her.

"When I broke the news, I have never seen anyone more happy and surprised - she just held up the tickets to her eyes and cried. She said it was the best thing that could happen and that she would keep them under her pillow. When I spoke to her daughter, Amanda, she insisted that I take Elsie myself. We will be taxied there by two Bluebird Care care workers, Greig and Vicky Wright - which Amanda was very happy about as her mother is in a wheelchair.

"I am sure Elsie will have a lovely day and I am so grateful to Wimbledon for arranging the tickets."