Robinsons celebrates 75 years at Wimbledon
2010 is a very special year for the Robinsons and Wimbledon partnership. We're proud to say that we will be celebrating 75 years of sponsoring Wimbledon, making our relationship the second longest running sports sponsorship in the world!
For 75 years, Robinsons has been an integral part of the great Wimbledon tradition. In fact, it was at Wimbledon that Robinsons was first invented in the 1930s. Mr E. Smedley-Hodgson, a steward attending one of the players on Centre Court, found the revitalising mix of Robinsons' patent barley water, lemon juice, sugar and ice to be just what was required on another blazing hot day in June. This combination was so popular that it was bottled and became the first Robinsons Lemon Barley Water. Robinsons has been present at the Championships ever since.
Through the years, Robinsons has picked up a number of well-known devotees. Fred Perry was rather partial to a glass or two and Jean Botora was often heard requesting his favourite 'demi-demi', a mixture of Robinsons' Lemon and Orange Barley Water. More recently, exciting young British hopeful Laura Robson and fans' favourite Tim Henman have enjoyed it on their way to various match victories at the Championship. And it isn't only the players of course, Wimbledon's many umpires, ball girls and ball boys all drink an amazing 12,000 litres of Robinsons squash every year.
