This article is not one written by Norman but as Fred Davis must be considered as a Past Master it seems to be the appropriatre place for it to be.
Fred Davis O.B.E
The following pages and pictures are a result of Fred Davis’s relatives being left with the sad and difficult task of handling and sorting out, on her death, the estate of Fred’s daughter . They kindly donated the papers and pictures about Fred to the Snooker Heritage Collection.
Rather the writing Fred’s Life History, which is well covered by Wikipedia, this is basically a scrap book of interesting items from the papers donated by his relatives. We even have the letter, dated April 1989, sent to Fred concerning the W.P.B.S.A. drug testing being brought into line with the I.O.C. Guidelines meaning that the heart drug prescribed to Fred contained banned narcotics and suggesting alternatives but telling him to check with his GP.
Some of the pictures did have information attached, some do not, if anyone can provide information for those pictures please send it to the Snooker Heritage Collection.
Where possible the items are in date order where that is not possible they are just there to show highlights from Fred’s long and successful career.
We hope that you find this ‘scrap book’ interesting.
This picture was part of the very large collection that Fred had collected and it is of some interest as it shows Joe Davis ( the challenger), sitting alongside A. Goundrill (at the front centre) and Tom Newman (holder). 1927 Professional Billiards Championship of England played in Manchester.
Fred’s B.A & C.C. Certificate confirming his winning the Junior Professional English Billiards Championship in November 1931.
Trying to date pictures and programmes during the 1939/45 period is difficult so they may not be in true chronological order!
Fred was granted permission to enter the City of Canterbury by the Chief Constable. Not sure why in 1942, during the war, that he required permission but could it be that movement was restricted in the City after the June 1942 ‘Baedeker’ air raid
The above is brochure from the “Billiards for Service Fund”, possible date March 1944, listing Fred Davis as one of the famous professionals giving exhibitions on be half of the fund. This leaflet
Was this before Fred joined up (?) as the next two pictures show him in uniform
Fred, in uniform, and brother Joe
Fred & Joe also took part in an Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) radio interview and Fred kept the script which very interesting.
Not sure when this was broadcast but it could have been in the period 1939/42
Peter Ainsworth noticed that the script has Joe Davis saying ‘I hope you are listening Tom. This Ainsworth suggests it was recorded before Tom Newman’s death on 30th September 1943.
1944 Fund Raiser for Red Cross & St. John’s Fund
In 1946 The Professional Billiard Players Association produced a rule book with a list of Honorary Life Presidents as well as Members. Joe Davis was the chairman
Not sure why the bindings are different colours as the contents is the same.
1946/47 list of members
Fred’s certificate from the B.A. & C.C. as runner up in the 1946/47 Wold Professional Snooker Championship. He was beaten in the final by Walter Donaldson (82 frames to 62)
Tom Webster Cartoon from October 13 1946
Walter Donaldson won the 1947 Championship
L – R – Walter Donaldson (Champion)- Tommy Leng (referee) Not certain that the picture is Tommy Leng but he was the referee for the Championship – Joe Davis – Raymond Glendening (BBC Commentator) – Fed Davis (Runner-Up)
The picture was taken at the Albany Club, Saville Row 25th October 1947
Fred World Champion 1948
The following article was published in a magazine in 1948
Tom Webster Cartoon 7/11/1948
Tom Webster Cartoon 17th July 1949
In 1950 Fred played Walter Donaldson at The Tower Circus, Blackpool and Fred had an invitation to lunch with the Mayor of Blackpool
Also in the 1950’s the News of the World newspaper sponsored a Professional Snooker Tournament Fred & Joe 1951/52
The final was held at the Leicester Square Hall 17th -19th January 1952
Again in 1951 Fred played for the World Professional Snooker Championship against Walter Donaldson (Holder) at The Tower Circus, Blackpool. Fred took the title.
Not sure if the following picture is from the World Championships between Fred Davis & John Pulman 1955 or 1956 season but it is a nice picture of both players.
In 1958 Fred was invited to play a series snooker matches against the Canadian Champion George Chenniere British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
The following pictures are from that event.
Arriving – George Chennier is in the centre of the picture.
The Snooker matches were played on Brunswick tables
Fred & George admiring the trophy
Fred being presented with the winner’s trophy
Fred kept the trophy back at home
In 1960 the World Open Snooker Championship was held in Brisbane, Australia. Fred who was the News of the World Snooker Champion was the player from England.
The above is a poster promoting the event & below the Souvenir Programme
There were representatives from South Africa; Australia, New Zealand, and India in the competition.
Fred was given a visitors ‘pass’ whilst he was in Brisbane to the Queensland Bookmakers Club
Fred had a busy schedule whilst visiting Australia and he seems to have travelled and visited a few of the States as the following itinerary shows him arriving from Launceston (Tasmania) into Victoria then off to Adelaide (South Australia)
He must have also visited New South Wales as there is a card from Tattersall’s Club Sydney
During the competition Fred received a few telegrams ( before the invention of the fax or texting!!) As you can see from the last telegram Fred won he tournament
The Sun (Australia) newspaper did the following report in July 1960 after Fred’s win
In 1965 The World Snooker Championship returned to London to be played at the Burroughes & Watts Hall
In 1966 the Championship moved North to Liverpool
During Fred’s stay in Liverpool did he get an invitation to the ‘Gunners Club’ in Crosby? The membership card is about the correct era.
The early recordings of the BBC ‘Pot Black’ in Birmingham featured a Clare-Padmore-Thurston Jubilee Snooker Table. The following picture is circa 1971 with Fred in play and Rex Williams looking on.
Also in the 1970’s the Clare-Padmore-Thurston group had Fred & Rex Williams on their Advisory Panel. Note :- The Clare – Padmore – Thurston Group in the 1980’s traded just as THURSTON
In 1974 Rex Williams started his pool table business Rex Williams Leisure. Rex with Fred promoting his U.K. Style Pool Table- Circa 1974
Drawing of Fred done at the Pro-Am Snooker 1974
In 1983 Fred took the highest break prize, sponsored by Winterbotham, Strachan & Playne, in the World Professional Billiard Championship.
Fred was still a keen player and entered the Qualifiers in 1989 receiving the instructions from the WPBSA.
is was the year he received the letter about the heart drugs he was prescribed being on the banned narcotics of the International Olympic Medical Committee.
Fred Paid his fee for his entrance in to the 1990 World Snooker Championships
In 1991 Fred was asked to put down his thoughts and reflection on the game
By 1993 Fred still held a ranking position of 259 and despite being 80 in August of that year still would have loved to continue to play. However his severe arthritis in his knee made it painful to walk.
Fred passed away in April 1998
Just one final picture from Fred’s scrap book which show Fred & Joe’s father on the far left (#1);Walter Lindrum (centre #4) and Horace Lindrum’s father (one in from the right #6)
Our thanks to Fred’s extended family for donating all the pictures, of which the above are just a selection.
Acknowledgements – Peter Ainsworth
© 2023 E.A. Clare & Son Ltd; © Peter N. Clare 2023
Snooker Heritage Collection
THURSTON for all your Snooker, Pool & Billiard accesories
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The Snooker Heritage Collection is free to enter BUT as the rooms are just part of a working office and factory a Guide is required. So please make an appointment giving at least 72 hours notice. The maximum number that can be shown round is limited to four. To access the Collection is up two flights of stairs To make an appointment phone 0151 482 2700
