Alan Mills (tennis)
Encyclopedia
Allan Mills, CBE
born in Stretford
, Lancashire
, England, was a former tennis player and tournament referee for the Wimbledon tennis championships from 1982 to 2005. Although each individual tennis match was controlled by an on-court umpire
, Alan Mills ran the entire tournament. However, perhaps he was most well known because the decision to stop play in the event of rain was that of Mills, and so his face was familiar to millions of television viewers worldwide, in the corner of Centre Court
, clutching his two-way radio and glancing upwards at the sky in search of rainclouds.
Mills was himself an accomplished tennis player
. At the age of 17 he was the senior county champion in his home county of Lancashire
, and he reached the last 16 in the men's singles at Wimbledon on two occasions. He was also the first man in the history of the Davis Cup
to win a match with the scoreline 6–0, 6–0, 6–0, completing the match in just 32 minutes.
when the Australian came to Britain.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
born in Stretford
Stretford
Stretford is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Lying on flat ground between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, it is to the southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Salford and northeast of Altrincham...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England, was a former tennis player and tournament referee for the Wimbledon tennis championships from 1982 to 2005. Although each individual tennis match was controlled by an on-court umpire
Official (tennis)
In tennis, an official is a person who ensures that a match or tournament is conducted according to the International Tennis Federation Rules of Tennis and other competition regulations....
, Alan Mills ran the entire tournament. However, perhaps he was most well known because the decision to stop play in the event of rain was that of Mills, and so his face was familiar to millions of television viewers worldwide, in the corner of Centre Court
Centre Court
Centre Court is the main court at the Wimbledon Championship, the 3rd annual Grand Slam event of the tennis calendar. It is situated adjacent to Aorangi Terrace and is home to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Its only regular use is for the two weeks a year that the Championships take...
, clutching his two-way radio and glancing upwards at the sky in search of rainclouds.
Mills was himself an accomplished tennis player
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. At the age of 17 he was the senior county champion in his home county of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and he reached the last 16 in the men's singles at Wimbledon on two occasions. He was also the first man in the history of the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
to win a match with the scoreline 6–0, 6–0, 6–0, completing the match in just 32 minutes.
Tennis Career
Mills was the first Englishman to defeat Rod LaverRod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
when the Australian came to Britain.
Further reading
- Mills, A. (2005). Lifting the Covers. ISBN 0-7553-1229-5 — an autobiography of Alan Mills' 21 years as referee of the Wimbledon Championships
External links
- BBC News Online 'face of the week'