Beloved Wimbledon referee Alan Mills (88) and notorious ex-police Roger Rogerson (83) pass away
- Replies 8
The tennis world is mourning as it bids farewell to one of its most iconic figures, Alan Mills.
The long-serving Wimbledon tournament referee, affectionately known as the 'Rain Man', passed away at 88 during the Australian Open.
This loss has left a void in the sport, sparking an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the globe.
Mills' association with the All-England Club spanned over two decades, from 1983 to 2005.
He earned his nickname for his uncanny knack of making the call on suspending play due to weather conditions, a particularly challenging task in the days before Wimbledon had roofed courts.
On January 18th, he passed away, as announced by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) on January 20, leading to an outpouring of condolences from the tennis community.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King expressed her sorrow, saying, 'Alan was loved and respected by all who knew him. I am so pleased we were able to spend time with him at Wimbledon last year at the Last 8 Club dinner. Sending our thoughts and prayers to his family.'
The ATP paid tribute to Mills, describing him as a man of 'impeccable character and integrity' who 'treated every player equally'.
His dedication to the sport was evident as he continued to work at elite tournaments until 2015, a testament to his unwavering commitment to tennis.
Mills' career as a referee was marked by several memorable moments.
One of his first assignments refereeing Wimbledon qualifying came in 1977 when a young John McEnroe, then 18, sought out the official for an on-court discussion. This marked the beginning of a series of encounters between Mills and McEnroe.
It culminated in Mills preventing McEnroe from defaulting during a dispute with a chair umpire in Mills' first year as Wimbledon referee.
Mills also had the unenviable task of disqualifying Tim Henman at Wimbledon in 1995 when Henman accidentally hit a ball into a ballkid. He had his fair share of run-ins with other tennis greats as well, including Jimmy Connors.
Before stepping into the role of a referee, Mills was a tour-level player himself.
He was the first Englishman to defeat Rod Laver in a tournament before the Australian legend went on to win the 1961 Wimbledon title.
Mills made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon twice and reached the semi-finals in men’s doubles. He also partnered with his table tennis star wife, Jill Rook, in mixed doubles on 14 occasions. The couple has two children together.
Gerry Armstrong, a fellow former Wimbledon referee, paid tribute to Mills, saying, 'Alan was a great influence on myself and many officials around the world. He was always helpful and encouraging during the years we worked together at Wimbledon and on the ATP Tour.’
He added: ‘It was a great honour to work alongside him in professional tennis for many decades.'
Australian ex-tennis referee Richard Ings also mourned his former boss. 'Sad to lose Alan Mills, a man of integrity and dignity. He was the epitome of English common sense on the world’s tennis courts,' Ings said.
Doubles legend Pam Shriver added, 'Alan Mills had just the right touch as Wimbledon referee. RIP.'
Mills' death comes just days after respected journalist Mike Dickson died while in Melbourne covering the Australian Open. The pair were long-time friends.
'Dicko was talking about Alan in the press room earlier this week and shared some stories from years gone by. A very sad few days,' English journalist Stuart Fraser said.
Alan Mills leaves a legacy that will be remembered for generations. His contributions to the sport, both as a player and a referee, have left an indelible mark on tennis. His fairness, integrity, and dedication to the game have set a benchmark for future referees and officials.
As we remember Alan Mills, his legacy will continue to inspire and guide the tennis world.We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
In similar news, notorious figure Roger Rogerson—a former decorated detective turned convicted murderer—has met his end at the age of 83.
The infamous ex-police, who was serving a life sentence, suffered a fatal brain aneurysm in his prison cell at Long Bay prison.
His life, which was marked by a dramatic fall from grace, ended in the same vein.
His life support was turned off at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick on Friday morning, leading to his death on the following Sunday night.
Born in 1941, Rogerson embarked on his career with the New South Wales Police Force at 17. He was seen as a charming, intelligent, and dedicated officer in his early years, quickly ascending the ranks.
His work on some of Australia's most high-profile cases earned him the Peter Mitchell Award, the highest police accolade, for the arrest of escaped armed robber Gary Purdey.
However, the promising start to his career was overshadowed by a series of scandals and criminal activities that would eventually lead to his downfall.
His descent into infamy began with his involvement in the murder of 20-year-old student and drug dealer Jamie Gao in 2014.
Rogerson, then 73, and his accomplice, former corrupt police officer Glen McNamara, lured Gao into a Rent-A-Space storage unit in Padstow before shooting him twice.
Their motive was to sell the $18 million worth of methamphetamine in Gao’s possession. However, their plan unravelled when Gao's body washed ashore in Cronulla, leading to their conviction and Rogerson's life sentence.
Rogerson's criminal activities were not limited to this shocking murder. He was also charged with the attempted assassination of police officer Mick Drury but was acquitted by a jury.
In a separate incident, he shot and killed heroin dealer Warren Lanfranchi during a police meeting in Chippendale in June 1981.
Lanfranchi’s girlfriend, Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, spent years lobbying police and the media to prove he had been murdered. In a tragic twist, Huckstepp's body was found in a pond in Centennial Park in 1986.
Rogerson's career in the police force ended in 1986 when the Police Tribunal upheld seven misconduct charges against him.
His criminal activities did not cease with his dismissal, however. More than a decade later, he was sentenced to 12 months in jail for lying to the Police Integrity Commission in 1999.
Throughout his decades-long career, Rogerson was implicated in a series of crimes, including fabricating evidence, bribery, drug dealing, and corruption.
Last year, he was admitted to the Long Bay Correctional Centre hospital suffering from a debilitating illness. His health reportedly declined, resulting in limited use of his arms.
You can watch Sky News Australia’s report here:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased. May they rest in peace.
The long-serving Wimbledon tournament referee, affectionately known as the 'Rain Man', passed away at 88 during the Australian Open.
This loss has left a void in the sport, sparking an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the globe.
Mills' association with the All-England Club spanned over two decades, from 1983 to 2005.
He earned his nickname for his uncanny knack of making the call on suspending play due to weather conditions, a particularly challenging task in the days before Wimbledon had roofed courts.
Alan Mills passed away at the age of 88. Source: @the_LTA/X (Twitter)
On January 18th, he passed away, as announced by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) on January 20, leading to an outpouring of condolences from the tennis community.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King expressed her sorrow, saying, 'Alan was loved and respected by all who knew him. I am so pleased we were able to spend time with him at Wimbledon last year at the Last 8 Club dinner. Sending our thoughts and prayers to his family.'
The ATP paid tribute to Mills, describing him as a man of 'impeccable character and integrity' who 'treated every player equally'.
His dedication to the sport was evident as he continued to work at elite tournaments until 2015, a testament to his unwavering commitment to tennis.
Mills' career as a referee was marked by several memorable moments.
One of his first assignments refereeing Wimbledon qualifying came in 1977 when a young John McEnroe, then 18, sought out the official for an on-court discussion. This marked the beginning of a series of encounters between Mills and McEnroe.
It culminated in Mills preventing McEnroe from defaulting during a dispute with a chair umpire in Mills' first year as Wimbledon referee.
Mills also had the unenviable task of disqualifying Tim Henman at Wimbledon in 1995 when Henman accidentally hit a ball into a ballkid. He had his fair share of run-ins with other tennis greats as well, including Jimmy Connors.
Before stepping into the role of a referee, Mills was a tour-level player himself.
He was the first Englishman to defeat Rod Laver in a tournament before the Australian legend went on to win the 1961 Wimbledon title.
Mills made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon twice and reached the semi-finals in men’s doubles. He also partnered with his table tennis star wife, Jill Rook, in mixed doubles on 14 occasions. The couple has two children together.
Gerry Armstrong, a fellow former Wimbledon referee, paid tribute to Mills, saying, 'Alan was a great influence on myself and many officials around the world. He was always helpful and encouraging during the years we worked together at Wimbledon and on the ATP Tour.’
He added: ‘It was a great honour to work alongside him in professional tennis for many decades.'
Australian ex-tennis referee Richard Ings also mourned his former boss. 'Sad to lose Alan Mills, a man of integrity and dignity. He was the epitome of English common sense on the world’s tennis courts,' Ings said.
Doubles legend Pam Shriver added, 'Alan Mills had just the right touch as Wimbledon referee. RIP.'
Mills' death comes just days after respected journalist Mike Dickson died while in Melbourne covering the Australian Open. The pair were long-time friends.
'Dicko was talking about Alan in the press room earlier this week and shared some stories from years gone by. A very sad few days,' English journalist Stuart Fraser said.
Alan Mills leaves a legacy that will be remembered for generations. His contributions to the sport, both as a player and a referee, have left an indelible mark on tennis. His fairness, integrity, and dedication to the game have set a benchmark for future referees and officials.
As we remember Alan Mills, his legacy will continue to inspire and guide the tennis world.We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
In similar news, notorious figure Roger Rogerson—a former decorated detective turned convicted murderer—has met his end at the age of 83.
The infamous ex-police, who was serving a life sentence, suffered a fatal brain aneurysm in his prison cell at Long Bay prison.
Roger Rogerson passed away at the age of 83. Source: True Crime TV/Youtube
His life, which was marked by a dramatic fall from grace, ended in the same vein.
His life support was turned off at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick on Friday morning, leading to his death on the following Sunday night.
Born in 1941, Rogerson embarked on his career with the New South Wales Police Force at 17. He was seen as a charming, intelligent, and dedicated officer in his early years, quickly ascending the ranks.
His work on some of Australia's most high-profile cases earned him the Peter Mitchell Award, the highest police accolade, for the arrest of escaped armed robber Gary Purdey.
However, the promising start to his career was overshadowed by a series of scandals and criminal activities that would eventually lead to his downfall.
His descent into infamy began with his involvement in the murder of 20-year-old student and drug dealer Jamie Gao in 2014.
Rogerson, then 73, and his accomplice, former corrupt police officer Glen McNamara, lured Gao into a Rent-A-Space storage unit in Padstow before shooting him twice.
Their motive was to sell the $18 million worth of methamphetamine in Gao’s possession. However, their plan unravelled when Gao's body washed ashore in Cronulla, leading to their conviction and Rogerson's life sentence.
Rogerson's criminal activities were not limited to this shocking murder. He was also charged with the attempted assassination of police officer Mick Drury but was acquitted by a jury.
In a separate incident, he shot and killed heroin dealer Warren Lanfranchi during a police meeting in Chippendale in June 1981.
Lanfranchi’s girlfriend, Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, spent years lobbying police and the media to prove he had been murdered. In a tragic twist, Huckstepp's body was found in a pond in Centennial Park in 1986.
Rogerson's career in the police force ended in 1986 when the Police Tribunal upheld seven misconduct charges against him.
His criminal activities did not cease with his dismissal, however. More than a decade later, he was sentenced to 12 months in jail for lying to the Police Integrity Commission in 1999.
Throughout his decades-long career, Rogerson was implicated in a series of crimes, including fabricating evidence, bribery, drug dealing, and corruption.
Last year, he was admitted to the Long Bay Correctional Centre hospital suffering from a debilitating illness. His health reportedly declined, resulting in limited use of his arms.
You can watch Sky News Australia’s report here:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased. May they rest in peace.
.png){kind=icon}
