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Not that Mr Spearing is too concerned. His predictions for a British victory lie firmly with next summer, by way of an odd calculation. Thirty-eight years later I joined the Wimbledon stewards. That was If you add 38 years to that, it's So Murray must win next year, I'll get good odds.
Mr Spearing, who was born in Wallington and moved to Blackburn before the war, cites the final between Patrick Rafter and Goran Ivanisevic as one of his favourites. Wimbledon almost closed with the queues forming, and the atmosphere was one like never before. Today his money in on Nadal for a five-setter. Once the tournament finishes, Mr Spearing has a few matters to attend to before returning to Abu Dhabi and making his plans for a return — in 50 weeks' time. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies.
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Due to his position alongside Wags and coaches, it's been pointed out that Mr Spearing is one of the most photographed non-players in Wimbledon. The family box is often the first place players look when deciding whether to challenge an umpire's call or if a match is getting away from them, and cameras will turn to family members - Serena and Venus's dad Michael Williams, Murray's mum Judy or Federer's wife Mirka, for example - to gauge reactions at a crucial moment.
The number of guest seats per player has recently been upped from six to a dozen, and the spares are often given to celebrities. Popping flashbulbs behind Mr Spearing are often a sign he's talking to a celebrity. He realised that a lot of photographers seemed to be interested in the back of his head as he chatted to one elderly gentleman before the semi-final between Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic, and had to be told by fellow stewards that he was talking to the billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One rights holder.
It was about then that the Irish broadcaster Terry Wogan asked listeners to his BBC radio show who the man in the black hat in the family box every day at Wimbledon was, live on air. Since then, Mr Spearing has been profiled in UK newspapers including the Daily Telegraph, Independent, Express and Daily Mail, to whom he talked about the growing trend for Wimbledon winners to clamber up the stands to greet their family, cheered on by an adoring audience.
The All England Club traditionally frowns upon the practice, but many players have gone ahead anyway. Mr Spearing has high hopes for Murray, though, whom he ranks alongside Djokovic as one of the very best in the game.
Both players have reached the quarter-finals and could to meet in the Sunday's final. Exciting as it is, the job of an honorary steward isn't all about hobnobbing with the stars. It also involves early starts, long days and menial chores like handing out wristbands to the fans who camp out for days in the hope of snagging a ticket.
But Mr Spearing isn't complaining. I know them as personal friends now. But my greatest pleasure is helping people. Abu Dhabi man is cult figure on Centre Court It has been a Wimbledon of surprises, but one constant on Centre Court this year, as always, is David Spearing, the tournament's longest-serving honorary steward and long-time UAE resident. Jessica holland.
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