Wimbledon gets its ghoul on

Plus: We speak with author and journalist Stefan Stern about Wimbledon's BookFest

Oct 24, 2024

Hello, Wimblers — and a very good morning to you all. Thanks again to everyone who has already subscribed. Please keep sharing our newsletter so we can reach as many locals as possible!

Two weeks ago, I ran a competition to give away some signed copies of Julia Boggio’s romance novel, Shooters. I’m happy to announce that the winners are Antoinette Coll and Sjoera Snijder-Sahuleka — thank you to everyone who took part!

It’s spooky season here in Wimbledon and this week we have plenty of Halloween recommendations to satiate all your ghoulish needs: think face painting classes, pumpkin carving and Rocky Horror-inspired dance lessons. We also have your usual roundup of local news, a very gallant property of the week and a sit down interview with Stefan Stern. Stefan is a local author, journalist, and patron of the BookFest, which finishes this Sunday. Scroll down to hear all about how Wimbledon has changed over the past few years and why it’s so important that we keep book festivals alive.

Get in touch if you have any ideas, thoughts, feedback or leads: zak@thewimble.com. Please do send in your photos of the week if you have them — we’d love some autumnal snapshots of the common.

I think that’s everything for now. Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🛹 A local playground in Wimbledon Park has been called an “embarrassment for the area” after falling into disrepair. The council say their priority is avoiding accidents while they wait for spare parts to fix up the playground, which is only a stone’s throw from Wimbledon Park tube station. Read more about the ongoing situation here.

🔥 The cause of the recent fire at the Wimbledon waste depot remains unknown, though the company has raised concerns about residents disposing of lithium batteries improperly. The fire, which broke out on September 7th, burned for several days and it took more than 40 firefighters to tackle the blaze. Click here for further details and updates.

🕊 A former chairman of the AELTC has died. John Curry, who led Wimbledon through a period of expansion from 1989-99, passed away at the age of 86; the cause of death hasn’t been publicly announced. Curry played a vital role in the opening of the new No. 1 Court in 1997 which the club has said “consolidated Wimbledon’s position as the world’s premier tennis tournament.” Read the AELTC’s obituary here.

Property of the week 🏡

Look, we’ve had some pretty nice properties on The Wimble before, but this one has to be in the top five. This three-bedroom house really packs a punch. There’s a games room with a balcony, a gym, a garden office — even the bedroom has a fireplace! I could see myself living here if only I was a richer man. Anyone fancy loaning me £1,200,000? No? It was worth a try. Check out more photos here.

‘My job is about revealing the author. It’s not about me at all’: In conversation with Stefan Stern 📚

The BookFest is in full swing. This week I sat down with author and journalist Stefan Stern, who has worked for the BBC, Financial Times and other publications. Stefan is also a patron of the BookFest and has chaired many of their events over the past decade. He and I spoke about growing up in South London, the importance of book festivals and how Wimbledon has changed over the years. Stefan’s new book, Fair or Foul: The Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition, is out now. He will be in conversation with Viv Groskop and Philippa Thomas this Saturday for the BookFest — tickets here.

Z: So, what makes the BookFest so special?

S: I know I’m biased but I think we’re one of the best when it comes to this sort of thing [book festivals]. I might be on the home team but even so I still think the range and atmosphere of the BookFest is great. Also, we have to be grateful to our locals. They are an incredibly thoughtful and civilised audience — and they always ask great questions.

Tell me about your connection to Wimbledon.

Well, I live in Colliers Wood. I went to school in Wimbledon — at King’s [KCS] on the top of the hill. Much of my life has been spent knocking around Wimbledon. And here I still am! [Laughs] I can’t get away!

How has Wimbledon changed in your time here?

I think the Broadway is far more vibrant than it was, or it certainly had a different sort of energy before. I remember a famous quote from a veteran who had come back from serving in Iraq. He said it was scarier being near Wimbledon Broadway than it was walking around the rougher corners of Iraq or, more specifically, Baghdad. That was 15 to 20 years ago, mind you. I think it’s great now, though we do still have this interesting split between the Village and the town centre. And that will always persist. But the Village has perked up too. Interestingly, it wasn’t always a happy hunting ground for restaurants, bars and businesses.

I think that’s true. I used to come to the town centre on a weekly basis as a kid and take part in some very basic kickboxing classes. The town centre was different back then … perhaps worse. I think the BookFest is an example of how Wimbledon has grown since then.

That’s a really interesting way of looking at it. I don’t think it was always the BookFest’s plan to come here to the town centre, but actually now that we’re down here we’re absolutely in the heart of things, and maybe symbolically that’s a good thing.

I hear that you’ve written a book about ambition.

I have! I’m talking about it on Saturday.

So, tell me, what’s it like being an author here? What’s it like on the other side of the fence?

You can ask me again on Saturday evening [laughs]. No, I think and I hope that authors like coming here. If they’re local, like me, it’s of course easy for them to get here. But it’s really about how welcoming the festival is. Fiona and the rest of the team do such an amazing job. I suppose I have to say that, but I really mean it.

I can tell that you mean it!

And there’s also a wonderful vibe here. It’s very supportive, very collaborative and it’s non-hierarchical. Authors do plenty of events around the country and they’ll recognise the atmosphere here immediately. And they seem to be very at ease here. It’s a platform where they can talk about what they’re interested in, sell their books — I like to check the length of the book queue after I’ve chaired an event because I think, well … I think if there’s a decent queue then we’ve done a good job. I always see my role, my job, as revealing the author. It’s not about me at all.

Circling back to ambition, what do you think the ambitions of the BookFest are?

Well, as you know, it’s been a bumpy time for the arts world and book festivals in general. Now a lot of festivals are in doubt. The flourishing of book festivals in the last 20 years is a wonderful cultural phenomenon and development; it has only been a good thing. Yes, protestors might raise their eyebrows at one or two sponsors — and they are absolutely entitled to do so — but I think the vast majority of us are here to stimulate and support intellectual life and cultural debate. We should be having more festivals like ours and more sponsorship, not less! It’s a shame that festivals have been reduced in size and scope; no one wants that.

You can buy Stefan’s book, Fair or Foul: The Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition, here. If you want to hear Stefan talk at this year’s BookFest on Saturday, click here. You can find the rest of the BookFest’s wonderful itinerary here.

👻 Halloween at Wimbledon Quarter — head down to the town centre this weekend for two days of ghoulish activities to keep your “little monsters” entertained. On Sunday there will be a day of pumpkin painting, games and even a lesson on how to dance the Time Warp. Book your tickets here.

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 26th October, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM / Sunday 27th October, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (each slot is one hour long)

🥃 Whisky Tasting with Glendronach at Jeroboams — the nights are getting colder and the sun is setting earlier, and that can only mean one thing: it’s whisky season. Head up to the Village this afternoon to enjoy some 12-year-old, 15-year-old and 18-year-old whisky. Tickets are £7.50 — book here.

Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village

When: Thursday 24th October, 4:00 PM - onwards.

🎃 Halloween Pumpkin on Wimbledon Common — this family-friendly festive treasure hunt costs just £2 and is a great chance to let off some steam, win some prizes and get your faces painted. I’ve also heard rumours that there will be Reptile Events — there’s nothing spookier than a cold-blooded snake. Book here.

Where: Information Centre, Windmill Road, Wimbledon Common

When: Saturday 26th October, 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM

🎾 Sam Marland Tennis Camp — half term is upon us, and what better way to keep your kids active and occupied than with a week of tennis training run by fully licensed LTA tennis coach Sam Marland. Half day sessions are £20 per day / £100 per week and full day sessions are £35 per day / £175 per week. You never know, this half term tennis camp could be the start of a long and illustrious tennis career for your little star. Book a spot here.

Where: The King’s Club, SW19 4TT

When: Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November

🧠 World Stroke Day Information Event — around 100,000 strokes occur each year in the UK, with roughly 38,000 people dying from the condition. Knowing how to spot the signs of a stroke might just save a life. Next Tuesday, Wimbledon Guild is hosting a FREE information event for Merton residents aged 50+. With strokes on the rise in the UK, prevention is key. This event will have blood pressure checks and a neuro-physio, dietician and occupational therapist on site to answer any questions. Book here.

Where: Guild Lounge, Worple Road

When: Tuesday 29th October, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Question of the week 🔍

Last week I asked you which Saxon king referred to Wimbledon as “Wimbedounyng” in a mid-tenth century charter. The answer: Edgar the Peaceful.

Q: In what year did Charles I buy back Wimbledon Manor for the crown?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for tuning in this week. Please keep sending in your comments, emails and ideas: zak@thewimble.com. If you have any leads on the sort of stories we should pursue, or any feedback to share, drop me a message. Have a great week, enjoy some time off on the weekend and I’ll see you next Thursday.