Honouring tributes poured in from the world of sport, when tennis commentator Gerald Williams – known for his Christian stance – passed away at the age of 86 on 21 January.
Welsh-born, his early years were divided between Carmarthenshire and Surrey. His first job in journalism was with the Croydon Advertiser. It was not long after BBC commentator Harry Carpenter introduced him as a sports sub-editor for the Daily Mail, that tennis began to take over. Although no outstanding player himself, Gerald’s perceptions of court play and his superb voice projection came eventually to win him the acclaim of BBC’S Brian Johnstone, Bill Threlfall and Cliff Morgan (who became his boss). Dan Maskell was to invite him into the Wimbledon commentary box. Open Tennis was taking over, and – with the increasing speed of play - Max Robertson’s ball-by-ball approach would give way to Gerald’s more laconic style of coverage.
The evening Wimbledon Highlights programme – under Gerald and devoted anchorman Des Lynam – entranced TV viewers for no less than ten years. Chris Gorringe, former CEO of the All England Club, now confides, I always maintained that he and Des Lynam did the best highlights programme of Wimbledon in their ‘Des and Gerry’ show during the fortnight.
Faith in Christ
His faith in Christ was central to it all. Assisting Andrew Wingfield Digby (founder of Christians in Sport) and Eddie Waxer (President of World Sports in the USA), Gerald enjoyed fellowship with Wimbledon champions Stan Smith and Margaret Court – and many more. And then there was Cliff Richard.
Writing directly for en, Sir Cliff tells us: ‘I knew of Gerald before I actually met him, and then I was invited, along with Sue Barker, to a pre-Wimbledon cocktail party at his home. There I encountered a bevy of tennis players and discovered they were present because of Gerald’s involvement in Christians in Sport. His spiritual concern for those in the sporting world was his motivation. After that, I joined him many times at social events as well as enjoying his brilliant broadcasting of course. It was a privilege to know him and to share the faith that we both held dear.’
Travelling the world of tennis, first with BBC and later with Sky Sports, Gerald became loved by the players themselves, and not least because they knew that he could be completely trusted with their confidences and hidden secrets. A single man for most of his life he declared, “They were my family.”
