An elderly man living adjacent to Wimbledon’s Centre Court has shared that the tennis championship has effectively isolated him from visitors, with barriers, security guards, and bureaucratic red tape turning simple errands into an ordeal.
Mikael Grut, 92, a retired civil servant who battles Parkinson’s disease and kyphosis, said he can’t even call a plumber to his flat in Burghley House, which offers a view of the All England Club. During the prestigious Championships, his home is hemmed in by two vehicle checkpoints—one manned by Merton Council and the other by event organisers.
He said: “There are times when we need someone at the drop of a hat, it complicates life. They even told us if we need a plumber, to get it done before the tennis.”
Mr Grut said any guests to his home during the tournament must be registered in advance, with residents having to email the estate office staff who post letters on their behalf. He said: “I can’t get to the post office, so I have to email them and ask them to send it for me.”
His carer, Conchita del Campo, aged 71, said: “It’s like Brazil, you’ve got gated communities. I had to call ahead, and Mikael had to submit my car details so I could get through the barriers.” Mr Grut added: “It’s like being in lockdown again. There are two checkpoints, and someone is always there.”
Despite the upper floors of their building being used for broadcast purposes, no complimentary tournament tickets are offered to residents. “We should charge them,” Ms del Campo joked.
Mr Grut, a father of three, grandfather to eight and great-grandfather to four, said: “There’s some pride in living somewhere famous, people say, ‘Oh, you come from Wimbledon’. But it’s not easy during the tennis.”
A spokesperson for Wimbledon stated that residents of Burghley House had been given “vehicle passes and a letter explaining how access to vital services can be maintained” throughout the tournament.
They further noted that there is an allocation of extra passes for additional services. Merton Council has been approached by PA for a comment.
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