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Wales Online
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Katherine Jenkins outed Sue Barker for breaking golden Wimbledon rule
Katherine Jenkins outed Sue Barker for breaking golden Wimbledon rule Katherine Jenkins once called out former tennis ace and BBC legend Sue Barker for breaking one of Wimbledon's strict rules when the pair were together on Centre Court Sue Barker was once outed embarrassingly by Katherine Jenkins (Image: Getty Images ) With Wimbledon 2025 in full swing, a funny story from Sue Barker's new book about Welsh icon Katherine Jenkins is making waves. The Neath-born singer called out the BBC presenter for breaking a strict Wimbledon rule - wearing heels on Centre Court's sacred grass. The incident took place during the 2009 opening ceremony for the arena's retractable roof. Tennis legends Tim Henman, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters were present, and Jenkins was there to perform. "She was wearing a pink lace strapless dress and lovely sparkly little flip-flops," Barker recalls in her book, Wimbledon, A personal history. The Welsh mezzo-soprano performed Amazing Grace as the roof opened theatrically, followed by a solo rendition of Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It for You, dedicated to the service stewards. Barker, a Wimbledon broadcasting legend, was tasked with interviewing the players and then chatting with Jenkins for the crowd. As she walked toward her, microphone in hand, the singer spotted Barker's heels and exclaimed live on air: "But I was told I couldn't wear heels!" Centre Court's strict dress code bans heels to protect the grass, a rule Jenkins adhered to with her flip-flops. Barker writes: "So the first part of our interview was me trying to pretend that I wasn't really in heels (you know, because obviously the rules are you're not allowed to wear heels on the Centre Court grass). It was hugely embarrassing!" Katherine Jenkins and Andrew Levitas are regulars at Wimbledon (Image: Getty Images ) The story resurfaced years later during a tea gathering on the day of the ladies' final, where Barker met up with fellow tennis icon Billie Jean King. Not long into the meet-up, Katherine and her husband, Andrew Levitas, arrived to greet King, and the singer didn't miss a beat. "Without so much as a hello, Katherine pointed me out to her husband like she was identifying a criminal in a police line-up and blurted out, 'SHE broke the rules on Centre Court,'" Barker recounts. "That was 2009 - nearly 15 years ago - and her first association on seeing me again was to recall my illegal high heels!" Sue Barker is a bona fide Wimbledon legend (Image: Getty Images ) The playful jab, referring to the 2009 heels incident, showcases the 45-year-old's wit, charm and respect for Wimbledon's traditions. Even in flip-flops, her performance on Centre Court was a highlight, with her powerful voice and heartfelt dedication moving the crowd. But for some, her teasing of Barker stole the show. The 69-year-old took it in her stride, though. Article continues below She added: "But we had a lovely chat, another really special time just relaxing with someone rather than the fleeting catch-ups I had when I was relentlessly working." Sue Barker's book, Wimbledon, A personal history, is available to purchase.
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Ex-Wales rugby captain's business settles claim from former star
Ex-Wales rugby captain's business settles claim from former star Exclusive: A settlement has been reached in the case brought by Leigh Davies against a multimillion-pound water supplier Former Wales captain and WRU chairman David Pickering A water supplier run by ex-Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering has settled a court claim from former Wales rugby international Leigh Davies. The retired centre had accused Hydro Industries of cheating him out of more than £125,000. Mr Davies, 48, earned 21 caps and played for teams including Scarlets and Ospreys. Mr Pickering, 64, was a flanker who captained Wales before managing the national team and then spending 11 years as WRU chairman. He is chairman of Hydro, a Carmarthenshire-based firm which provides drinking water in various countries and last year had more than £5.2m in net assets. In his claim, which was due to go to trial at Cardiff county court, Mr Davies accused Hydro of "deception" over Middle-Eastern business deals and said he no longer trusted Mr Pickering or the other directors. But we understand a settlement has been reached and the claim withdrawn. Hydro told WalesOnline: 'The proceedings have been stayed on the basis of confidential terms that neither party is free to disclose or discuss." The business previously made headlines in 2021 having secured millions in UK Government funding after donating £71,000 to the then-ruling Tory party. One of its directors is journalist Guto Harri, who was a top aide to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Wales centre Leigh Davies tackled by Tom Takau of the USA in 1999 (Image: David Rogers /Allsport ) Article continues below Mr Davies' claim – first revealed by WalesOnline in January – alleged that he got to know people involved in Hydro after helping one of its directors with fitness training. Mr Davies allegedly introduced the directors to a friend he knew from charity rugby events in Dubai. That friend was a "close business partner and friend with the royal family in the United Arab Emirates", the filing alleged. According to Mr Davies' claim his friend was "looking for a water purification company to assist with numerous projects in the UAE, Gulf states, and surrounding countries". It added: "Following my initial introduction the potential for business grew and it became clear early on that there was massive potential for large contracts." The Neath-born star claimed he signed an agreement with Hydro's directors in 2013 that would secure him 5% commission on any orders he introduced or helped negotiate. The following year Hydro announced what it described as a "£20m joint-venture deal" with Abu Dhabi business group M Partners for a water treatment project in the UAE. Mr Davies saw himself as an "essential and continuing" link between Hydro and companies in the Gulf states. He said he represented Hydro at meetings and at corporate and charity events. "Hydro could not have existed, searched for new business opportunities, or entered into any new business contracts without my introductions," the filing alleged. It continued: "In 2016 Hydro wanted me to sign a new and different contract. This new contract would reduce my commission from 5% to 1%. Naturally this concerned me a little so I arranged to meet Wayne Preece [the chief executive officer of Hydro]." Mr Davies and Mr Preece allegedly met at the Morgans Hotel in Swansea. "We discussed the new agreement and discussed all the new business opportunities that had been presented to Hydro since my introductions," the claim read, adding that "lots" of potential contracts were mentioned including one with UAE waste management company Bee'ah. "I did not write any of them down as I took Wayne at his word that my interests and commission would be protected. I also believed I had some legal protection at that stage pursuant to the 2013 sales agreement. "On that evening Wayne Preece provided me with a 'forecast document' which suggested I would be receiving significant commission payments that would steadily increase over the next five years and then settle out resulting in a significant annual amount that would be life-changing for me. Even though my commission would be reducing from 5% to 1% even at 1% the forecast suggested I would be earning around £250,000 a year for the next 20 years from my commission payments. Naturally I now deeply regret trusting Wayne Preece on that night. "A few months later I signed the new 1% commission agreement in good faith. Unbeknown to me at the time negotiations were already ongoing and close to conclusion on the Bee'ah contract. I now know that the Bee'ah contract was signed on June 26, 2016, only a few weeks after I signed the 1% agreement. Had I still been entitled under my old contract at 5% I would have been entitled to a payment in excess of £125,000. I feel I was misled at the time but was not troubled as I had been assured that my 1% agreement would still bring me huge dividends. "Knowing what I now know it is clear that Hydro were becoming well aware of the potential for business in the UAE and Gulf states and wider and wanted to reduce my commission from 5% to 1% and then actually had no intention to pay any commission, in fact wanted to remove me completely." The claim accuses Hydro of "deception" in allegedly failing to disclose the Bee'ah contract. "I was told by Wayne Preece that there were lots of contracts 'in the pipeline' but nothing had actually been signed yet and that no monies had been received by Hydro as yet. This clearly was not the case and Bee'ah was close to signing and monies were about to be received, some of which I was entitled to." The claim was for £28,000 based on Hydro's alleged failures to pay 1% commission on deals after Mr Davies signed the 2016 contract but it also called for a ruling on whether he was entitled to 5%. When we inquired about the settlement Mr Davies declined to comment. Hydro, based in Llangennech, had net assets of £5,248,577 last year, £10,523,965 the preceding year, and £12,647,257 the year before that. The firm specialises in water purification technology and in recent years has won contracts in Ecuador, Bangladesh, and Egypt. Article continues below
