LONDON: While the leading players at Queen's Club relax between matches in five-star accommodation, the man responsible for getting the venue in working order prefers a more modest home -- a caravan on the site of the Wimbledon warm-up event.
John Hester, the Queen's tournament site manager, lives in the caravan while he oversees the transformation of the plush private members' club into an arena capable of dealing with thousands of fans eager to watch stars like Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka.
Hester has been in charge of the Queen's site for more than 30 years and each April he leaves his home in Scotland to carry out his work in west London, before bedding down every evening in his well-equipped temporary lodgings.
"That's my home. That's where I live in London when I come down for three and a half months," Hester said in a video posted on the Queen's Club Twitter account.
"I've usually got palm trees in here but I didn't bring them with me this year because I thought it would be chucking it down with rain.
"The barbecue is there. There'll be steaks on there tonight."
Hester's work starts weeks before the tournament, which began on Monday, and this year was especially taxing as Queen's organisers increased the capacity by almost 30 percent to hold around 9,000 spectators.
"I'm first on site and last off. There's pressure up until qualifiers, the week of the tournament. It eases off after that," Hester said.
"The biggest challenge was obviously getting the big main stand completed."
Once the tournament is under way, the bulk of his work is done, so Hester is joined by his wife for the week and they enjoy the fruits of his labour.
"Yes, I can watch as much tennis as I want. Being honest I have the air con and sit and watch on television!" he said.
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