Wimbledon’s hawk trainer was told to “get a proper job” in the early years of his profession.
Wayne Davis, from Corby in Northamptonshire, has been training Harris hawks called Hamish and then Rufus in the southwest London club for 22 years.
We’re ready, are you? ???? #wimbledon pic.twitter.com/tI6Sp3Yi43
— Rufus The Hawk (@RufusTheHawk) June 26, 2022
Mr. Davis said he met his first hawk when he was 11 and has been building a business co-ordinating the bird of prey’s work in London venues including Lord’s cricket ground and Westminster Abbey.
His wife, Donna, and daughter, Imogen, are also part of the Wimbledon operation, which involves waking up at 4 am to spend four hours clearing the pests from the grass courts each morning.
“I started out on American airfields for 20 years, and we started in London, and I’m still here now. We’ve worked at Wimbledon for 22 years now, but it’s still as enjoyable as the first year.
“I love falcons and hawks et cetera, and working for such a nice environment as Wimbledon is special. Plus we get to watch some tennis and watch the hawks fly, so I’m a happy man.”
He added: “I love it, it’s a passion and it’s a lifestyle more than anything, I’m very privileged.
Best feathers forward, hurtling into Day Two! ???????? #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/bkYf06X1FS
— Rufus The Hawk (@RufusTheHawk) June 28, 2022
‘Get a proper job’
“Although it takes commitment to follow it through. When I first started, people were like ‘Get a proper job’.
“And I was like ‘I don’t want a proper job, I just want to fly falcons, so it’s evolved very well. He’s quite a celebrity now.
“They’ve actually got a hood of his in the museum, it’s part of the story of Wimbledon, because Rufus and Hamish, go back 22 years.
“It’s so good for the club because it’s positive ecological control, it’s very environmentally friendly, sustainable.”
Mr. Davis said he is confident that Rufus will be able to handle working all 14 days of this year’s tournament, including the middle Sunday, which is being played for the first time this year.
