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WIMBLEDON NEWSCLIPPING DEREK PAIN
BOYS WHO LOVE WIMBLEDON SPORTS HEADLINES 1948
DISAPPEARING TRICKS
BY STEVE ROBERTS SPORTS REPORTER.
THE SERVICE BALL STRUCK THE CORD OF THE NET STRETCHED ACROSS WIMBLEDON'S CENTRE COURT,
AND FELL SHORT.
A STOCKY, GREY - FLANNELLED BOY DASHED ACROSS. A SWOOP OF HIS HAND AND THE WHITE BLOB
DISAPPEARED FROM THE CONCENTRATED GAZE OF A 1000 PAIRS OF EYES.
SO EXPERTLY IT WAS DONE PLAY WAS NOT INTERRUPTED. WHO WAS THIS YOUNGSTER HELPING
WIMBLEDON RETAIN IT'S REPUTATION AS THE BEST ORGANISED OF ALL SPORTING EVENTS?
IT MAY HAVE BEEN LEONARD "MURPHY" MOTT, DEREK "SNOWY" PAIN, OR TOM COTTON. THEY ARE THREE
OF THE EIGHT DR BARNARDO'S BOYS FROM WILLIAM BAKER TECHNICAL SCHOOL, HARPENDEN
(a genuine mistake by the reporter) WHO SERVICE DAILY FOR CENTRE COURT.
A SUEDE RED BELT DISTINGUISHES THEM FROM THEIR 47 SCHOOLMATES ON THE OUTER COURTS.
THE BOYS KNOW ALL ABOUT THE "TEMPERAMENTS" THEY ARE THE TARGETS FOR A WANING SCOWLS.
"BUT MOST OF THEM ARE VERY FRIENDLY" THEY SAY, AND WE LOVE THE JOB.
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