Wimbledon 2023: The Young Volunteers from Barnardo’s Taking Center Stage at the Tournament

In an unexpected turn of events, Winston Norton reminisces about his time as a ball boy at Wimbledon during the 1960s. However, unlike most former ball boys who cherish their memorabilia from those precious years, Norton finds himself devoid of any physical reminders. The sweatbands and programmes he acquired while bartering for cigarettes back at the children’s home have long been traded away or lost in time.

The lemon squash stolen from the courts and consumed undiluted on their return coach trip never made it past that fateful journey either. It seems like only memories remain, now immortalized by the Museum of London alongside his friend and fellow ball boy Sam Hill.

The Tension Surrounding Selection Day at Barnardo’s Home

A few days prior to each year’s prestigious grass-court Grand Slam event, a list featuring only 60 names would be posted on a wall at their Barnardo’s home much to everyone’s anticipation. After months of grueling training, young boys eagerly gathered around this list hoping to see if they had made the cut.

For some boys, it was devastating news; their dreams shattered within seconds. Yet for others like Winston Norton and Sam Hill, elation filled their hearts as they realized this opportunity would change their lives forever — broadening horizons in ways unimaginable before. “Your life changed,” recalls Hill, as he reflects upon the profound impact of this experience.

The Unique Environment at Goldings in Hertfordshire

Goldings in Hertfordshire, officially known as William Baker Technical School, was home to approximately 240 boys. Each boy learned a trade such as carpentry, painting and decorating, sheet metal work, shoe mending, printing or gardening — skills that would secure them future apprenticeships. Norton specifically chose printing. He describes Goldings as a “melting pot” where children from diverse backgrounds resided together. Though fights were common and profanity filled the air at times, an overwhelmingly happy atmosphere prevailed within these walls.

An Unconventional Start to Life

Norton’s journey began when he entered care at the tender age of three. His mother faced relentless abuse from family members due to her mixed-race baby; she ultimately couldn’t handle the pressure anymore. Norton’s father was an African-American GI who returned to the United States after World War Two.

In this peculiar environment governed by numbers rather than names – Norton being assigned number 217 – opportunities for venturing beyond their confined world were scarce. The occasional shopping or cinema trip to nearby Hertford on Saturday afternoons offered brief glimpses of life outside their sheltered existence.

Fitness Training and Wimbledon Aspirations

All students knew about Goldings’ association with Wimbledon and yearned for selection as ball boys during their training sessions led by none other than the school vicar himself come April each year — a strict fitness regime enforced by Barnardo’s ensured they remained healthy and fit throughout. Hill reminisces about how crucial one’s physical condition was if they desired to be chosen for Wimbledon. The training was intense, with hours spent on grass and hard-court sessions honing their accuracy in passing the ball and retrieving it swiftly.

The Triumph of Being Selected

Finally, June arrived – a month marked by great anticipation as the much-awaited list would decide who among them would venture to London and rub shoulders with top tennis players, royalty, and members of the public for an entire fortnight. Hill recalls how emotions ran high as boys flocked to the noticeboard to discover their fate. Tears of joy or disappointment were shed that day; however, being selected meant walking tall — a prideful acknowledgment of one’s achievement.