Gerald Williams (tennis commentator)
Gerald Williams | |
---|---|
Born | Surrey, England | 24 June 1929
Died | 21 January 2016 | (aged 86)
Nationality | British |
Occupation(s) | TV and radio tennis commentator, sports journalist |
Gerald Williams (24 June 1929 – 21 January 2016) was a British tennis commentator and journalist. Williams wrote for the
Biography
Williams was born in Surrey and spent his teenage years in
ITV recruited Williams as a tennis commentator in the 1960s,[4] a sport in which his interest was both professional and personal.[5] Williams worked in tandem with Fred Perry[6][7] as the network’s main voices. Football commentary was also part of the remit. From 1971, Williams worked on the Southern Soccer programme for Southern Television,[8] and hosted and commentated on Soccer Special for HTV.[9]
Williams was asked to become a radio tennis commentator by BBC executive
Williams was particularly associated with
Williams was sympathetic to the tempestuous on-court behaviour of male tennis players in the 1980s including Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, and Ilie Năstase, later saying in an interview: "Sometimes I'd be doing the commentary and criticising the players for their behaviour and I felt like a complete sham."[2] Williams was also admonished by McEnroe himself, who told the umpire at the 1978 Davis Cup Final between the USA and Great Britain to "tell that Brit commentator to keep his voice down."[2]
Williams spent his retirement in Bancyfelin, near Carmarthen in West Wales.[2]
References
- Croydon Advertiser. p. 11. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f White, Jim (21 January 2016). "Des Lynam pays tribute to Gerry Williams, the BBC's voice of tennis". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Tributes paid to Welsh tennis commentator Gerald Williams". Carmarthen Journal. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- ^ Brasher, Shirley (16 February 1969). "Who the hell is Bagenal Harvey?". The Observer. p. 22. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ Jones, Moya (18 July 1969). "The wives on the tennis circuit". Liverpool Echo. p. 14. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Here is your weekend TV guide". Westminster and Pimlico News. p. 52.
- Bristol Evening Post. p. 5.
- ^ "Broadcaster Credits". THE TV FOOTBALL ALMANAC. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ Hollman, Ken (7 October 1972). "TV GUIDE". Liverpool Daily Post. p. 2. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Search - BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.