Crowd control

simoncp
simoncp Posts: 3,260
edited June 2007 in Campaign
Why does the military have so many staff on duty at Wimbledon? Soldiers, sailors and airmen, in uniform and so presumably on duty, can clearly be seen standing around in the aisles and at the entrance to the courts. They are in addition to the odd policemen.

Why are they there and who is paying their wages? Anyone know?
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Comments

  • They are there to watch the tennis. We're paying their wages. Next question?
  • Smeggers
    Smeggers Posts: 1,019
    /conspiracy theory/

    They are put there by the organisers to look pretty on telly and make Wimbledon seem entrenched in history, part of the British Establishment. Thus safeguarding its place on the Pro-Tour and to make lots of money.


    /conspiracy theory/


    <font size="1">Hickory Dickory Dock,
    A baby elephant ran up the clock,
    The clock is being repaired</font id="size1">
    <font size="1">Hickory Dickory Dock,
    A baby elephant ran up the clock,
    The clock is being repaired</font id="size1">
  • ankev1
    ankev1 Posts: 3,686
    It's a traditional thing. The forces have helped out since the year dot. It probably is a leftover from the time when the CO of a regiment could do anything he liked (legally) with his men. It is now a prized tradition within the forces as it provides a bit of PR for them and the troops concerned get to watch a bit of tennis. Also they're all volunteers for it. One can only assume that only the more mind-numbingly thick kind of soldier would volunteer for Wimbledon but it takes all sorts, I suppose.
  • Archcp
    Archcp Posts: 8,987
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by simoncp</i>

    Why are they there and who is paying their wages? Anyone know?
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    It's the BBC you know. They pay for them, out of your Licence Fee (just yours, so each soldier only gets about a pound). They're there to wait for moments when rain stops play, whereupon they will start lecturing the spectators on the benefits of communism...

    If I had a baby elephant, it could help me clean the car. If I had a car.
    If I had a baby elephant, it could help me clean the car. If I had a car.
  • <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Arch</i>

    whereupon they will start lecturing the spectators on the benefits of communism...

    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    Who will pray that it's more interesting than redder's lecture. [;)]
  • simoncp
    simoncp Posts: 3,260
    I can only assume that those who give facetious answers to my question think that a high military presence at a genteel tennis tournament is quite normal. I asked because I find it odd, and I find it odd because I know of no other sports events that require such a presence, excpet perhaps for some football internationals in south America.

    Does anyone know why they are there and who is paying them?
  • simoncp
    simoncp Posts: 3,260
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Patrick Stevens</i>

    They are there to watch the tennis. We're paying their wages. Next question?
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    Why don't they go in their normal clothes and sit down like everyone else then?
  • Flying_Monkey
    Flying_Monkey Posts: 8,708
    Oh I don't know, simoncp, have you considered that it might be your fault that people don't take your posts seriously any more rather than everybody else's? Just a thought...

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
  • simoncp
    simoncp Posts: 3,260
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Flying_Monkey</i>

    Oh I don't know, simoncp, have you considered that it might be your fault that people don't take your posts seriously any more rather than everybody else's? Just a thought...

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    A familiar tack, and a dull one. So do you know the answer to my question or not?
  • Noodley
    Noodley Posts: 1,725
    OK, it's time for me to 'fess up - my family have been paying them all these years out of our own pockets. Great grandfather Noodley thought they were due some form of punishment for killing African tribal members during some pointless military campaign, and it is a tradition us Noodleys have supported down the ages. Not until they stop their pointless military campaigns will they be allowed to escape the tedium that is wimbledon.
  • Are the soldiers and airmen there to make sure the sailors don't get captured?
  • CometGirl
    CometGirl Posts: 2,681
    They're not paid, and they're there through tradition.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueri ... 27,00.html

    There's no better "reason" for it than there is for the Changing of the Guard, or for Chelsea Pensioners, or any of the other little eccentricities that enliven things.
  • Flying_Monkey
    Flying_Monkey Posts: 8,708
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by simoncp</i>
    A familiar tack, and a dull one. So do you know the answer to my question or not?
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    You'd already been given the answer by ankev1... cometgirl's just repeated it for you. There you were all panting with anticipation of being outraged, and now you can't be... still, you can be outraged at my terribly unfair attack on you. Feel better now?

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
  • Navy - There to prevent any tennis players being captured by iranians and having i pods taken off them.

    Army - Press the red button and see the end of this sentence[:(!]

    RAF - Bcause jets are cool

    I pay them in sweets

    beow
    beow
  • Tourist Tony
    Tourist Tony Posts: 8,628
    It's all a plot by the Milk Marketing Board...

    If I had a stalker, I would hug it and kiss it and call it George...or Dick
    If I had a stalker, I would hug it and kiss it and call it George...or Dick
    http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3 ... =3244&v=5K
  • simoncp
    simoncp Posts: 3,260
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Flying_Monkey</i>

    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by simoncp</i>
    A familiar tack, and a dull one. So do you know the answer to my question or not?
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    You'd already been given the answer by ankev1... cometgirl's just repeated it for you. There you were all panting with anticipation of being outraged, and now you can't be... still, you can be outraged at my terribly unfair attack on you. Feel better now?

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    I feel excatly the same as when I asked the question. I get the feling that you've become a bit worked up. What was it about the question that got your goat?
  • CometGirl
    CometGirl Posts: 2,681
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by simoncp</i>

    I feel excatly the same as when I asked the question.
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    You mean you've still got that terrible pain in all the diodes down your left side?
  • Flying_Monkey
    Flying_Monkey Posts: 8,708
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by CometGirl</i>

    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by simoncp</i>

    I feel excatly the same as when I asked the question.
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    You mean you've still got that terrible pain in all the diodes down your left side?
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    [:D]

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
  • simoncp
    simoncp Posts: 3,260
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by CometGirl</i>

    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by simoncp</i>

    I feel excatly the same as when I asked the question.
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    You mean you've still got that terrible pain in all the diodes down your left side?
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    Eh?

    Thank you for the Guardian link. I wonder if anyone noticed that the replies to the question in the Guardian were all meant to be helpful replies, and that nobody sent in facetious answers. Or perhaps the Guardian didn't see the need to print the replies that were.

    Anyway, the stewarding of Wimbledon by military staff in uniform certainly is an oddity, like some quaint throwback to the days of Empire. I think they should do a deal with the tourist board and get guardsmen in bearskin hats to do the work. It wouldn't look much more bizarre than the current arrangement and might bring in more tourists.
  • ransos
    ransos Posts: 380
    Just because you have a spade, doesn't mean you have to keep digging.
  • Flying_Monkey
    Flying_Monkey Posts: 8,708
    Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. There is a humourless depressed robot called Marvin who appears to remind CometGirl of you for some unfathomable reason.

    Shame on you, CometGirl, naughty, wicked, evil CometGirl... [;)]

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
  • simoncp
    simoncp Posts: 3,260
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Flying_Monkey</i>

    Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. There is a humourless depressed robot called Marvin who appears to remind CometGirl of you for some unfathomable reason.

    Shame on you, CometGirl, naughty, wicked, evil CometGirl... [;)]

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">


    What a relief! I thought I was being criticised by normal people, not sci-fi bores. You'll be reciting Monty Python sketches to me next.

    What about people in shrek costumes stewarding Wimbleodn to bring in the younger audience? I know several kids who thinhk he's just the thing at the moment.
  • Noodley
    Noodley Posts: 1,725
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by simoncp</i>
    I wonder if anyone noticed that the replies to the question in the Guardian were all meant to be helpful replies, and that nobody sent in facetious answers.
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    well, if you wanted helpful replies why did you post in soapbox where everyone knows you.
  • Flying_Monkey
    Flying_Monkey Posts: 8,708
    I feel pleasantly surprised not to fit into whatever strange cult it is that you would define as 'normal people' - I do wonder how you can tell.

    Anyway, much as enjoy your delightfully witty banter, simoncp, I have to go...

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
  • ransos
    ransos Posts: 380
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Flying_Monkey</i>

    I feel pleasantly surprised not to fit into whatever strange cult it is that you would define as 'normal people' - I do wonder how you can tell.

    Anyway, much as enjoy your delightfully witty banter, simoncp, I have to go...

    Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em
    That I got no cerebellum
    Gonna get my Ph.D.
    I'm a teenage lobotomy
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
    I suspect it's an extremely narrow definition that extends solely to his own beliefs and tastes. For anyone who dissents must be a communist, tree hugger, socialist, guardian reader, bbc watcher....
  • stelvio
    stelvio Posts: 1,422
    An acquaintance of mine was a ball girl at Wombledon one year; but in the photographs she was not in military uniform at the time; could it be she was actually working undercover for the military ? She told me her father worked for the CII, but perhaps I misheard and she really said the CIA ? Why has she not asked for those books back that I borrowed in 1997 - are they actually secret listening devices ?
  • papercorn2000
    papercorn2000 Posts: 4,517
    Would the soldiers from Trumpton be on duty at Wimbledon or are they doing a tour in Iraq?

    How about Action Man? Haven't seen him about recently. Has he been promoted to the general staff?

    God told me to skin you alive.
    http://www.ekroadclub.co.uk/
    God told me to skin you alive.
    http://www.ekroadclub.co.uk/
  • Nivacrom
    Nivacrom Posts: 111
    I noticed lots of soldiers carrying out crowd control duty on Monte Zoncolan at the end of stage 17 of this years Giro. So there's another example of the troops being used for a sporting event. Money well spent I thought.
  • Cunobelin
    Cunobelin Posts: 11,792
    I used to know a girl who did this for many years, eventually ending up organising many of the Service women.

    They all take leave to do this, so technically there is no "cost" to the exercise.


    <b><i>He that buys land buys many stones.
    He that buys flesh buys many bones.
    He that buys eggs buys many shells,
    But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
    (Unattributed Trad.)
    <b><i>He that buys land buys many stones.
    He that buys flesh buys many bones.
    He that buys eggs buys many shells,
    But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
    (Unattributed Trad.)
  • grayo59
    grayo59 Posts: 722
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Flying_Monkey</i>

    Oh I don't know, simoncp, have you considered that it might be your fault that people don't take your posts seriously any more rather than everybody else's? Just a thought...
    ---

    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    [:D][:D][:D]

    __________________
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