For more than the last decade it has become one of the most traditional sights of Wimbledon. While most of us agonise, grimace, cheer and shout they sit largely motionless and apparently impassive to the heroics, agonies and ecstasies going on court before them.

We are of course talking about the six specially selected supporters that sit in Tim Henman’s players box in the corner of the Centre Court. Admittedly the cast list has changed slightly over the years with coaches going and new ones employed but the mood has remained the same. Stiff upper lip Englishness except for the fact that two hail from the United States and another is a son of South Africa.

As Henman rounded off another memorable five set victory over Carlos Moya, the line-up was the same as its been for the last four Championships. Reading left to right: coach Paul Annacone, fitness trainer Johann de Beer, wife Lucy, agent Jan Felgate, mother Jane Henman, father Tony Henman.

At the symmetrically opposite end of the court sit those in reserve. Whether they aspire to a seat in chosen six is not known but at various times Henman’s elder brothers Mike and Richard, in-laws the Healds, financial advisor Neil Grainger, assorted friends.

Whether they are in training for promotion is unsure. Certainly they do not adhere to the ‘omerta’ shown in the main box. More than occasionally there is a encouraging shout of ‘C’mon Tim.’ Invariably there are wild celebrations such as clapping. At times of real jollity they have even been known to lift themselves from their seats, raise both arms on high and join in a Mexican Wave.

However the main box contains a variety of secrets. In those halcyon days when her son reached semi-final after semi-final Jane Henman revealed she lost more than half a stone in nervous energy during the fortnight. While most of us cut back on the carbohydrates before setting off on our summer holiday, she simply silently agonised over every shot Tim hit or missed during the Championships.

Tony Henman may appear completely impassive but he does a magnificent job of stifling murmurs of support. And though she does her best to suppress her innermost torment, it is plain that Lucy (six months pregnant with the couples’ third child) suffers sheer purgatory as her loved one supports the tennis hopes and aspirations of the nation upon his shoulders.

Perish the thought that any of them should ever mimic the actions of Maria Sharapova’s father Yuri who is believed to communicate with his daughter from the very same seats by a well-versed sign language system. She was even told to eat a banana at a certain time during last year’s US Open.

And while many coaches break the rules of the game by signalling to their players that they should work more on the opponent’s fore or backhand, Annacone remains probably the least animate of his band, not even speaking a word during matches. It does make interesting conjecture on what would have happened if the highly verbose Brad Gilbert had been employed to work with Henman rather than Andy Murray.

Practice has clearly made perfect for the stoic six but a change is in the air. Henman’s own on court celebrations were far more animated after his win over Moya than they have been in previous first rounds over the years. Admittedly he is not yet in the Andre Agassi league of bowing to the four corners of the stadium, wiggling his racket in a special wave and then blowing kisses. But he clearly felt the crowd played a part in his victory and he showed his appreciation like never before.

Today the same people will fill the same seats in the players’ box as Henman takes on another Spaniard in the shape of Feliciano Lopez. Perhaps one day all will rise together at the end of one hugely exciting rally and brandish fists in joyous celebration a la Lleyton Hewitt. Now wouldn’t that be something to remember?