SW19 Diary: Let them eat cake ... er, strawberries

In January George Osborne took a skiing break, an action that was, it's fair to say, not well received by his subjects, sorry, public. Yesterday, ahead of today's mass industrial action over the cuts to pensions and the rest of it, the Chancellor paid a visit to Wimbledon where he shared the royal box with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Michael Caine and others who do not have to worry overly about where their pension is coming from.

Beeb counting the cost of Salford move

As you would expect for the broadcast rights holder, the BBC are out in force here. With an estimated 120 staff in attendance that's a lot of bodies and next year it will be a lot of hotel bills too. This is the last Wimbledon before 5 Live and BBC Sport relocate en masse from London to Salford. With the Olympics in London as well next year, there will be some happy hoteliers around the capital and some deep holes in the BBC expense account.

Junior's dopey dad torpedoed Paris trip

This is the first Grand Slam of the year for Liam Broady, Britain's promising 17-year-old. Australia was thought too far and too expensive to play in the juniors, but he also missed the French Open last month. Why? "My dad forgot to register me in time," admitted Broady with a sheepish grin.

British game aims to benefit from strike

Optimism is vital when it comes to British tennis, so here goes. Today's teachers' strike could have the unforeseen side effect of helping to unearth a home champion. The Will to Win Tennis Centres are today putting on free coaching sessions for seven to 14-year-olds not far from Wimbledon, in Chiswick and Ealing. Attendees will receive coaching and play in mini-tournaments. From small acorns and all that... "Even if they've never picked up a racket before, we're confident they will be budding players by the end of the day," said Steve Riley, director of Will to Win.