UNTIL HER retirement this summer, Sue Barker was the undisputed queen of Wimbledon, as vital a part of the tennis championships as strawberries and cream, Sir Cliff Richard and whatever Henman Hill is called these days.
Sue had been a key part of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage for more than 30 years and it was only when she signed off to viewers for the very last time following the men’s singles final in June, that her admirable, and all too rare, self-effacement gave way to a few tears. As always with Sue, it was about the event rather than her – and how many sports broadcasters today can you say that about?
Before giving her a farewell hug on her last day with the BBC, tennis great John McEnroe acknowledged just how unique Sue was, describing her as “the Roger Federer of broadcasting.”
That was also picked up Jim White, who noted that “few have made live hosting a renowned international event look as easy as she did… Like a Federer forehand, for her everything looked effortless.”
