Covid vaccine designer is given a standing ovation at Wimbledon

Touching moment crowds at Wimbledon’s Centre Court including the Duke of Kent and Romeo Beckham give a standing ovation to Oxford Covid vaccine designer Dame Sarah Gilbert

• Wimbledon organisers gave tickets to key workers and ‘inspirational individuals’ 
• Guests of Royal Box today included Dame Sarah Gilbert and Sir Andrew Pollard
• Hannah Ingram-Moore, daughter of Captain Sir Tom Moore, was also present 

Medical professionals who helped develop the coronavirus vaccine were given a standing ovation on Centre Court ahead of the first match there at Wimbledon.

Organisers have issued hundreds of free tickets to key workers and other ‘inspirational individuals’ by way of saying thank you for their ‘important work’ during the coronavirus pandemic.

Guests of the Royal Box on Monday included Dame Sarah Gilbert, who co-designed the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and head of the Oxford Vaccine Group Sir Andrew Pollard.

Among the applauding crowds were the Duke of Kent, Romeo Beckham and former British racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart. 

Crowds at Wimbledon’s Centre Court gave a standing ovation to Oxford Covid vaccine designer Dame Sarah Gilbert (pictured)

Hannah Ingram-Moore, daughter of veteran fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore who raised over £32 million for the NHS during the pandemic, also received a round of applause.

Ms Ingram-Moore smiled widely and waved as her father’s name received cheers. 

Announcers paid tribute to the ‘important work’ done by keyworkers before the first game on Centre Court between defending champion Novak Djokovic and 19-year-old Jack Draper from the UK. 

Medical professionals who helped develop the coronavirus vaccine were given a standing ovation on Centre Court ahead of the first match there at Wimbledon

Announcers paid tribute to the ‘important work’ done by keyworkers before the first game on Centre Court between defending champion Novak Djokovic and 19-year-old Jack Draper from the UK

‘In order to say thank you, the AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis Club) has provided 100 daily Centre and No.1 Court tickets to various groups ranging from the NHS to Transport For London… and other inspirational individuals, all in recognition of the service they have provided to those in their communities throughout the pandemic,’ the organisation said on its website. 

The competition’s chief executive, Sally Bolton, has said there will be a ‘familiar feel’ at the championship following a ‘level of uncertainty’ caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Bolton said she was feeling ‘excitement’ that the famous tennis tournament was starting, adding that ‘we can talk about tennis and not talk about Covid’.

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