The Wimbledon Ballot: Join in or join the queue
Plus: Get shooting! Wimbledon has a new photography competition — read all about it below.
Hello, Wimblers — and a very good morning to all of you. I hope that everyone enjoyed the last few days of August. Thank you again for all of your emails, comments and interactions. It makes me incredibly happy to see such high levels of engagement from you, the readers, and to know that we’re making an impact in Wimbledon. Please keep sharing the newsletter so we can reach as many people in SW19 as possible.
School is back in session for the vast majority of pupils. The summer has regrettably come to an end. The weather is as volatile as ever, but that’s part of London’s charm. Things are kicking back into gear this week. Expect your usual news snippets, a beautiful photo of the week and a Q&A with the Wimbledon Society about the launch of their new photography competition. This competition is open to all and is a great chance to show your appreciation for Wimbledon. You don’t need to be an expert by any means — just grab anything with a camera and shoot. The lucky 13 winners will be featured in the Society’s 2026 calendar.
Check out our recommendations to fight those post-summer blues. Send in your photos of the week. Drop me a line at zak@thewimble.com and subscribe if you haven’t already. Keep recommending The Wimble to your friends for a chance to win prizes from our leaderboard.
Happy reading!
News Snippets 🗞
🎾 The ballot for Wimbledon 2025 is open! Anyone can enter between now and 11:59 PM on Monday 16th September for a chance to win tickets for Centre Court and Court 1, 2 and 3. Enter here. Winners will be notified from October onwards, after which they will have 14 days to purchase their pair of tickets.
🛤 Crossrail 2 is back in the news. The proposed route would follow the existing railway line between Surrey and Wimbledon where it would then go underground through Balham and Clapham Junction. In 2019, the estimated cost of the project was £41bn, though funding is not expected anytime soon. Check out the full map and further details here.
🏚 Merton pays out £4,700 to homeless mother-of-two. Merton Council has apologised to a mother after the Local Government Ombudsman found they had failed to provide her with suitable accommodation. Read more about what transpired here.
Property of the week 🏡
This four-bedroom semi-detached house may look a little bare, but it’s got potential (one should hope so, too, for £1,700,000). It also comes with a pool (shared with the neighbours). Think about how much you’d save on gym memberships. I’m a fan of how compact this property is. The kitchen might be small but it’s undeniably pretty. And again, a pool! Check it out here.
Wimbledon through the lens 🤳
Last week I sat down with the Wimbledon Society’s Christine (Chair, Marketing & Communications Committee), Angela (Marketing Communications Team and Editorial) and Phil (Photography Advisor) to talk about their work, the history of Wimbledon and, most importantly, their upcoming photography competition. Special thanks goes to the South London Irish Centre for hosting us and being so incredibly welcoming — we’ll be running a piece on their work in an upcoming edition.
Z: Let’s start with a little history. Talk to me about the mission of the Wimbledon Society.
A: I think the slogan is a good place to start: “Wimbledon Society — working for the future and protecting the past.” The Society is here for everybody to join. It’s only £15 a year. You can volunteer with us, you can take on an admin role, get involved with our photography, help with our content, come to our lovely Christmas party, you can donate or support us with fundraising.
C: And in terms of our history, we were founded in 1903 by Richard Evans to protect Wimbledon Common from being encroached upon by urban development. He was our secretary until 1920 and he always felt that nature provides the best memorial; that’s his epitaph on the war memorial on Wimbledon Common. The Society aims to protect our open spaces; our green spaces. What do we do today? We work to preserve all of the “good things” that happen in Wimbledon. We comment on planning applications, promote local history and wildlife and preserve objects of historical interest. But I’d also say that we play a role in collecting the history of the future. What’s happening today is tomorrow’s history.
So the Society essentially preserves the history of Wimbledon?
C: That’s part of what we do. Something we’ve helped with recently is Dorset Hall: a Grade II listed building on Kingston Road, which was the home of local suffragette Rose Lamartine Yates in the early 20th century. Another thing we’re working on at the moment is stink pipes.
Can you briefly explain what those are for the readers who might not know?
C: They look like very tall Victorian lamp posts but they’ve got no lamps on top. We think there are about 11 or 12 in the borough, but they’re in need of repair. So, we’re working on that.
How did the photography competition come about?
A: Christine and I were looking to grow the Society’s reach, to find members of the community who might not have been aware of the Society before. We wanted to engage with a wider demographic, so that’s where the idea for photography came in.
C: It’s free to enter. You don’t need to be a member. It’s for everyone!
A: Christine said to me, “Can you design a flyer for the competition?” I just laughed and said, “Do I look like a graphic designer?”
[Phil, Christine and Angela laugh]
A: But I said, “I know this amazing graphic designer called Michal Bartosz who I’ve worked with previously.” He came onto a call with us and he just … he digs down so deep with every project. He designed the poster for us but now we’re thinking he should also design the calendar.
And I’m assuming there will be 12 winners if it’s a calendar competition?
C: 13, actually. 12 for each month, and one for the cover.
A: But we’re going to take the other entries and feature them in our Wimbledon Society newsletter. We’re thinking of having the photos displayed here [the South London Irish Centre], the museum, in the Quarter, in the library — places where people might not expect to see exhibitions.
Phil, when did you get involved in the project as the Photography Advisor?
P: About two weeks ago. They sort of said “you’re getting involved in this project whether you like it or not”.
A: Phil is a Wimbledon Society member. He calls himself an amateur photographer but I wouldn’t call him that. He’s far too good.
Are you looking for any particular themes apart from seasons?
A: I think it’s really about whatever people see as seasonal.
P: It can be a portrait of a person, landscape or whatever you decide.
A: It’s a competition that’s going to bring all of Wimbledon together. It’s about getting all ages involved — we’re promoting technology and we’re promoting Wimbledon and its surroundings. We had this tiny idea and it’s sort of flown from there.
Is this going to be an annual competition?
[All three laugh]
C: Let’s just see how this one goes.
To enter the competition, please send your photographs to both digital@wimbledonsociety.org.uk and socialmedia@wimbledonsociety.org.uk. Please include your name, email, mobile number and the season of your photograph. Scan the QR code above to join the WhatsApp chat or visit www.wimbledonsociety.org.uk for rules and further info. Happy snapping!
Photo of the week 📸
Thank you to Alan Young for this beautiful photo of the week. It shows the spire of Trinity United Reformed Church on Mansel Road. Keep sending your photos in: zak@thewimble.com.
The Wimble’s to do list 🎯
♻️ Sustainable September at Wimbledon Quarter — this weekend is packed with sustainably-inspired events. We have the Sustainable Women’s Market, the Kilo Sale with Goldsmith Vintage, a Repair Pop-up and Demo and Sustainability Talks. The events will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Head here to check the timings and grab your tickets.
🎭 Saturday Night Comedy in Wimbledon — mosey down to Tunnel 267 this Saturday evening to see Jake Lambert, Peter Jones and Otiz Cannelloni in action. It’s 18+ (unsurprisingly) so don’t forget your IDs. Buy your tickets here.
Where: Tunnel 267, The Broadway, SW19 1SD
When: Saturday 7th September, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
🌳 Wimbledon & Putney Commons Open Day — take a stroll up to Wimbledon Common to see birds of prey, horse and dog displays, rides, drinks, food and much more to keep you entertained for hours. Entry is free. For more information, click here.
Where: Next to the Rangers Office on Wimbledon Common
When: Sunday 8th September
🍷 Wine Dinner at The Black Lamb — another one of Brompton’s lovely and laidback wine dinners is taking place next week. Join Michael Hall for a “Wine Makers Dinner” next Tuesday and treat yourself to a three-course meal accompanied by a selection of delicious wines. Tickets are £90 (consider it one last summer splash-out) and you can book your space here.
Where: The Black Lamb, Wimbledon Village
When: September 10th, 7:00 PM — until you’re satiated
🗣 WSE Foreign Language Course — it might be time to do away with Duolingo. Wimbledon School of English is offering part-time evening classes in Spanish, French and Italian. The courses last ten weeks and cost £260 plus a registration fee. If you fancy yourself a linguist, check out more details here.
Where: 41 Worple Road, Wimbledon
When: September 10th — November 12th
Question of the week 🔍
Last week I asked you who holds the record for the loudest grunt at Wimbledon. The answer: Maria Sharapova.
Q: Which famous author wrote the books The Wimbledon Poisoner and They Came from SW19?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. Pop me an email, comment below and send me your ideas and photos of the week (zak@thewimble.com). Loving the support at the moment, so please keep it coming! Have a great week, enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you next Thursday. Adios! Au revoir! Ciao!