A few years later in 1934 he caused a recognizable shockwave in the British High Society. Because never before had the child with a working class background achieved what made Fred Perry a national hero and introduced tennis to a whole new audience.
A victory in the legendary Wimbledon tennis tournament, it was a breakthrough, because Wimbledon was until then the total domain of the rich snobs and aristocrats of the upper classes. The prize money of 25 quid was not awarded to Fred Perry, as he was an armature, but a non-profit institution donated the prize as recognition of his achievement.
And in addition he also was denied the winners medal and the obligatory Wimbledon club tie which were not formally awarded, but only handed to him in the changing room instead of presented to him on centre court as is the tradition.
The two following years in 1935 and in 36, Perry won the Wimbledon tournament again. Even today there is no Englishman that has ever managed to win three Wimbledon victories in a row. Perry also went on to win tournaments in Australia, France and the United States. Perry is noted along with the Swede Björn Borg to be the only men to be crowned King of the Centre Court five times.
At the end of the 30s Fred Perry became a tennis professional in the U.S. and eventually returned to England in 1947. He always complained that the Wimbledon players green shirts made them look like they were in the army and therefore contributed 75 white Fred Perry T-shirts that he had made to the players.
These were Fred Perry T-shirts, but they still had no emblem on them. The players who had been given the shirts wanted to thank him and came up with the idea of adding a logo to the shirts so that it could clearly be seen by all that they were donated by Fred. They opted for the laurel wreath, which he had won at the 1934 All England Cup, this became the instant symbol of Fred Perry clothing
From then on all Fred Perry T-shirts sold like hot cakes, even the arrogant upper class began to wear Fred Perry clothing with the laurel wreath to play tennis and also as casual wear. It is even said that the Queen once asked him why he thought his shirts were so popular, Perry simply replied: "Highness, my shirts fit!".
Fifty years after his first Wimbledon victory the "Fred Perry statue" was dedicated (1984) and this statue is now the symbol of Wimbledon.
Darrell F writing how Fred Perry Clothing is coming back in a big way...
Fred Perry died at the age of 85, on 2 February 1995. His legend lives until today, the laurel wreath at least serves not only as a reminder of a legendary professional tennis player, but above all as a symbol of working-class and rebellion though his ever popular Fred Perry clothing line.
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