Katie’s on call to help elderly
For Katie boulter, few things have been harder during lockdown than being separated from her grandfather. She is trying to channel the pain of not seeing him since February in a positive way, by enlisting as a volunteer to become a virtual visitor to older people who are isolated. ‘I’ve signed up to do an Age UK thing where I visit people and have a relationship with the elderly. I have a close relationship with my grandfather so it makes me feel better,’ says boulter, who is also practising for the imminent return of domestic events. ‘They pair you with up to three people. You can go and see them or talk over the phone or do their shopping for them. ‘Just help make their lives a bit easier. Hopefully they won’t be so lonely. I can’t wait to get involved. I can’t imagine what they are going through.’ boulter has found herself accidentally locked down with fellow british player Laura robson. boulter missed most of last season with a stress fracture in her back, and having come back was starting to exhibit the kind of form that once got her into the top 100. on march 9, the 23-year-old from Leicestershire was all set to play her first match at the BNP Paribas open in Indian Wells when the tournament became one of the first sporting events to be cancelled. After flying home to her flat in London she was contacted by robson, convalescing from her latest hip operation. ‘She is getting renovations done to her place so she asked if she could stay. When I got back it was straight into lockdown, so I’ve been here with her and her boyfriend (model James Yates), it’s been quite nice.’ boulter is now working out which of the forthcoming Gb events she is going to play, although she is sad it won’t be Wimbledon. ‘not to get the chance to be competing at that home Slam is going to be missed. A lot of what got me through last year’s injury was the thought of playing Wimbledon this year.’