"Old Woman Threatens Imminent Arrest Over Her Resolute Action to Secure Tree Against £200m Wimbledon Developments"
New and Refreshed Article:
In a heated interview with talkSPORT, nonagenarian screen legend Thelma Ruby poured her heart out, vowing to thwart the ambitious Wimbledon expansion at any cost.
Ruby resides in a swanky penthouse, boasting captivating views of the All England Club's hallowed grounds. However, the impendingλuminance of her cherished vista looms as a bitter side effect of the proposed SW19 revamp.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) shockingly splurged £65million to acquire the Wimbledon Park Golf Club's lease back in 2018. This move resulted in members – TV personalities like Piers Morgan and Ant and Dec – raking in a cool £85,000 each.
Initially, the AELTC was granted permission by the Greater London Authority for an extensive makeover of the site, slated for a massive overhaul set for September 2024.
The proposed £200million scheme comprises the construction of 39 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on Wimbledon Park, replacing current qualifying match domains held three-and-a-half miles away at Roehampton's Community Sports Centre.
The Rub-Down: Additional Insights
- Visit our Sports section for all the latest Wimbledon scoops and nuggets.
Ruby Takes Aim at Judicial Corruption
During the revealing interview, Ruby aired her grievances about the insidious nature of the whole ordeal. "This isn't even necessary—the existing locations suffice," she lamented. "If this horrendous endeavor materializes, I'll be greeted by chopped trees, obliterated grass, and trucks polluting every 10 minutes from my window. It's not hyperbole, I'd rather not continue living under such harsh conditions."
Sports Headlines
World No.719 Can't Cache Wimbledon Prize Money
Stay clued in on everything Wimbledon and beyond. Here are this week's top sports news:
British Broadcaster Chucked Over Djokovic Spat
...
Raducanu Dealt a Nightmare Wimbledon Draw
...
Free Wimbledon Deals: Score a Fiver and £20 in Bonuses
...
No Room for a Silver Lining
The expansion, expected to eventually inflate Wimbledon's capacity from 42,000 to 50,000, won't see the light of day until the early 2030s.
The Timeline of Tennis Expansion: Wimbledon's Roadmap
- In 1993, the AELTC purchased Wimbledon Park golf course land from Merton council for a mere £5.2million ($6.6million).
- In 2018, the purchase of Wimbledon Park Golf Club's lease went down for £65m.
- In 2021, the AELTC submitted expansion plans to both Merton and Wandsworth Councils.
- In October 2023, Merton Council approved AELTC's plans, but Wandsworth Council rejected them.
- In September 2024, the case went on to the Greater London Authority (GLA), which eventually approved planning permission to construct 39 new tennis courts and one stadium court.
- By December 2024, the scuffle found its way into court as Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) sought a legal challenge.
- In January 2025, AELTC forged ahead with their own judicial defense.
- The hotly contested review is slated for July 2025, but Ruby won't be attending as she's scheduled to attend Wimbledon on day one of the hearing.
"This would put the kibosh on my entire life," Ruby shared somberly. "I'd have no future, no hope. But I'm thinking beyond myself; any eco-conscious folks should understand the kidnapping of this land is despicable and sinful."
"Please, let the tennis enthusiasts comprehend the wickedness of their actions. It's a desecration, plain and simple," she implored.
British-born Ruby, whose repertoire includes roles in Coronation Street and productions alongside Orson Welles and Judi Dench, also takes a keen interest in the Save Wimbledon Park campaign.
The campaign group has managed to gather an impressive £200,000 to fund a judicial review and highlight the environmental impact of the Wimbledon expansion.
"I'll be nervous attending the hearing—tension runs high," Ruby admitted. "Despite my apprehension, I still love tennis, with Wimbledon being the cherry on top of the cake."
According to Debbie Jevans, chairwoman of the All England Club, she remains confident in the upcoming review's outcome. Nonetheless, Ruby stays unfazed, affirming her readiness to resort to drastic measures, including chaining herself to a tree or confronting private property owners.
"After all the decades of abiding by the law, I'm prepared to break it if necessary to salvage Wimbledon Park," Ruby declared with determination.
- Ruby, an avid supporter of environmental science, has pledged to thwart the Wimbledon expansion to prevent climate-change-related destruction of her cherished environment, including the obliteration of grass and constant truck pollution.
- As hockey, MMA, golf, tennis, and football are all popular sports, Ruby's presence and activism in the environmental-science field of sports has gained attention beyond her on-screen struggles at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
- Notably, Ruby has contributed her efforts to the Save Wimbledon Park campaign, which has successfully raised £200,000 to fund a legal review challenging the expansion and highlighting its impact on the environment.
- In the entertainment sphere, Ruby's strong stance against the Wimbledon expansion has stirred controversy, generating headlines and debate among tennis enthusiasts about the ethical implications of the proposed construction.
- As the hotly contested review approaches in July 2025, and with Ruby committed to attending on day one of the hearing, there is widespread speculation about her willingness to resort to drastic actions – such as chaining herself to a tree or confronting private property owners – in order to save Wimbledon Park and protect the environment.
