Centrefold: Giant moustache hovers over City: Des oversees Wimbledon bonanza at Broadgate
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Your support makes all the difference.At last, Des Lynam has got his big-screen break. Well, big-ish. During Wimbledon week the BBC's moustachioed front-man will be appearing on a 6ft television set above an impromptu tennis court in Broadgate.
Exchange Square, the venue that brought you inflatable sumo wrestling and G-stringed jugglers, Skate Naked, is host this fortnight to what's billed as the Wimbledon Bonanza. It's an attempt to get the bankers and lawyers who inhabit Broadgate to shed their pin-stripes and have a knock-up during lunch hour.
'We're hoping to get City business types out in shorts at lunchtime. . . or they can just kick off their shoes and play in their suits,' says Zena James, helping to organise the event.
The lawn in Exchange Square has been flattened, mown and marked out as a tennis court, while a 72in screen has been set up to bring live coverage from SW19. Nearby bar, Corney and Barrow, will be dishing out the strawberries and cream, and there's a marquee full of Wimbledon memorabilia - famous rackets etc - for the real enthusiasts.
Less celebrated rackets are available for the brave to demonstrate their tennis ability under the eyes of professional coaches from the Rover Junior Tennis Initiative.
Okay, the court's a bit short. 'A full-size court wouldn't quite fit in,' says James, and it won't exactly be one-to-one tuition - 'More like a free-for-all'. Then there's the weather - 'It looks like it's going to be horrible until the end of the week' - but surely that's an integral part of the tournament. At least Des will be there to bring us the sunshine moments from last year, and make dry jokes about the lonely umbrella on Court No 1.
Charlie English
Wimbledon at Broadgate, daily throughout Wimbledon fortnight (not Sat, Sun), 12.30-2pm (coaching), with live broadcast from Wimbledon all day, Exchange Square, Broadgate, EC2, Liverpool Street tube, free
(Photograph omitted)
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