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8 Jul 2013

Murray: not sure if I merit knighthood

David Cameron says Andy Murray should be given a knighthood after his Wimbledon win, but the Scot is doubtful. Reactions to his tennis triumph pour in from up and down the country.

Murray and Cameron on the steps of 10 Downing Street

Prime Minister David Cameron said Andy Murray deserves a knighthood for his Wimbledon victory.

Mr Cameron backed Murray for a knighthood after watching the match on Sunday from the royal box “I can’t think of anyone who deserves one more,” he said.

But the tennis star has said he is unsure if his tennis triumph is worthy of an award from the Queen: “It’s a nice thing to have or be offered but I don’t know if it merits that.” Knighthoods are awarded by committee, but members of the public can recommend people for the award.

In more diverse reactions to Murray’s victory, Irvine Welsh raised him a tequila, RBS staff in Dunblane posed with a cake in the shape of his head and across the UK and Scotland reactions to Murray’s win have been pouring in.

The Scottish great and good weighed in from all corners to celebrate the victory of the Dunblane boy. Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, kicked off the Scottish celebrations by unfurling the Saltire flag behind David Cameron’s head in the royal box, a move that made another Scot angry.

Journalist Fraser Nelson of the Spectator reclaimed Andy as a Brit: “Andy Murray describes himself as ‘a British winner’. Hope Salmond heard that. Saltires and Union flags waved in celebration.”

Literary hardman and author of Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh got emotional over the tennis, and took time out from a series of expletive-laden celebration tweets to tell Andy’s mum, Judy Murray, that he cried when Andy won:

Welsh also raised Murray a tequila, according to the author’s tweet. But the teetotal tennis-player will not be drinking any himself. Murray told the BBC that he “hates champagne … it burns my throat.”

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was also overcome by emotion, despite the fact that Murray, as a teenager, tried out for Celtic’s bitter rivals, Rangers.

Other Scots including Gerard Butler – the actor who plays the grizzled hero of Spartan war movie 300 – cheered Murray on from the sidelines of centre court, grinning, palling up with Bradley Cooper and taking pictures of himself.

Alex Salmond got his reaction to the victory out quickly with the Saltire “photobomb” and other politicians of all stripes fell over themselves to get a comment out. Ed Miliband described it as “a historic and amazing moment for him and for the whole country”.

Bank staff at RBS in Dunblane had a more creative reaction, posing with a life-sized replica of his head made out of cake, as photographed by the Telegraph’s Scotland correspondent Auslan Cramb.

After she had tweeted all the way through the match, Andy Murray took his mum Judy to the Wimbledon ball, the night after the final, where she celebrated with the women’s champion Marion Bartoli.

But Andy Murray’s dog – which has its own Twitter presence and often comments on life on the tennis circuit – has so far maintained a dignified silence.

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