Statue of Fred Perry

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Statue of Fred Perry
2014-10-19 Wimbledon Fred Perry statue-2 by Michael Frey.jpg
The statue in 2014
Artist David Wynne
Year1984
TypeSculpture
Medium Bronze
Subject Fred Perry
Location Wimbledon, London, SW19
Owner All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Close up of the statue in 2004 Fred perry statue wimbledon.jpg
Close up of the statue in 2004
The statue in 2017 Fred Perry statue and flowers in 2017.jpg
The statue in 2017

A statue of Fred Perry stands in the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in south-west London. It was sculpted by David Wynne.

Contents

Location and description

It stands in the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. It was sculpted by David Wynne. [1] It is a one-third life-size study showing Perry playing a forehand shot. [2] He is holding a wooden racket and wearing trousers. [2] The front of the plinth is inscribed

F J PERRY/WIMBLEDON CHAMPION 1934, 1935 AND 1936/DAVID WYNNE/SCULPTOR 1984

. The obverse is inscribed

UNVEILED BY H.R.H. THE DUKE OF KENT G.C.M.G. G.C.V.O. A.D.C. PRESIDENT AELTC 20TH MAY 1984

[3]

From 1984 to 2010 the statue was situated near Gate 5 of the grounds of the club. [3] It is now near Gate 4. [2]

History

The statue in 1987 prior to its resiting Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon - geograph.org.uk - 1364025.jpg
The statue in 1987 prior to its resiting

The statue was erected in 1984 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Perry's first Men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1934. It was unveiled by the Duke and Duchess of Kent on 20 May 1984. [2] [4] The statue was erected on 20 May 1984 during the chairmanship of Buzzer Hadingham. [5] [3] Perry complained that his name was not especially visible, so it was altered. [6]

Wynn's maquette for the sculpture is one of 140 maquettes given on long-term loan to Stowe House by Wynne in 2007. [7] [8]

Perry's perception of the statue was analysed by Richard Brilliant in his 2013 book Portraiture. [9] Brilliant discusses how Perry, upon seeing the statue declared "Oh my god ... It's me. It was scary" despite the sculpture being based on one of 700 photographs of Perry taken many decades ago and not Perry as he was at the time of its creation. [9] Perry would occasionally point to the statue to identify himself to the guards at the gates of Wimbledon if he arrived without a pass. [10] On a trip to Russia late in life, Perry was once shown a spy satellite photo of the Wimbledon grounds by a former KGB member who pointed out the statue to him. [11]

References

  1. ↑ "David Wynne (1926–2014)". Public Sculpture of Britain. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Matthews, Peter (22 February 2018). London's Statues and Monuments. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 232. ISBN   978-1-78442-258-5.
  3. 1 2 3 "Fred Perry". Sporting Sculptures Project. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Court Circular". The Times . No. 61836. 21 May 1984. p. 14. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Buzzer Hadingham". The Independent . 15 January 2005. Archived from the original on 7 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Longmore, Andrew (3 February 1995). "Colourful maestro shunned by the establishment". The Times . No. 65181. p. 40. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Stowe House: Our collection". Stowe House . Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Stowe House: Fred Perry". Stowe House . Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  9. 1 2 Brilliant, Richard (15 May 2013). Portraiture. London: Reaktion Books. p. 130. ISBN   978-1-78023-164-8.
  10. ↑ Longmore, Andrew (2 February 1995). "Colourful maestro shunned by the establishment". The Times . No. 65181. p. 40. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Henderson, Jon (10 November 2009). The Last Champion. Random House. p. 319. ISBN   978-1-4090-7711-4.
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