Wimbledon spectators on Monday paid tribute to Sarah Gilbert, the Oxford University professor who co-designed the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
She was given a standing ovation on Centre Court before play began in the annual tennis tournament.
The crowd also applauded the efforts of organisations that have contributed to Britain's fight against COVID-19. But the loudest cheers were reserved for Gilbert as well as the staff of the National Health Service (NHS).
Very moving and extremely well deserved!
— Mark Harper (@Mark_J_Harper) June 28, 2021
The very effective vaccines we have are how we get back to normal.
Well done Dame Sarah & your entire team đź‘Źđź‘Źđź‘Ź https://t.co/7iJyl6T4Ar
Gilbert, who was seated in the royal box, was awarded a damehood in the Queen's birthday honours earlier this month.
The Grand Slam event also plans to invite other individuals who have played a big part in combating the coronavirus to watch the action at this year's Championships seated in the royal box.
Also in the royal box was Hannah Ingram-Moore, the daughter of late Captain Tom Moore, who struck a chord with locked-down Britain by walking around his garden with the help of a frame to raise millions of pounds for NHS workers.
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