By Elliott West
Introduction
When I first looked at my train app and saw there was weekend engineering work in the Tonbridge area, my heart sank. I say that because I planned to go and see my dear friend Cliff Thorburn who was playing at the Paddock Wood Social Club in Kent, the last of his many visits on his whistle-stop tour of the UK. However, like the trooper that I am for the snooker cause, I made the journey from Stevenage to a hotel not far from the venue.
A Legendary Evening
After several hours of leisure time at the hotel, I received a call from my pal Colin Gross to get ready in a flash because we were off to have a bite to eat with Cliff at a country pub. A meal where the steak was a popular choice. Mr Thorburn was in form as always, telling tales from past and present and ordering fish and chips where the portion of battered fish was bigger than the plate itself and looked almost poised to jump back into the sea again.
After a satisfying repast, we made our way down some winding Kent lanes to Paddock Wood Social Club. A club that is at the heart of the local community with reasonably priced bar and a snooker room, costing £10,000 that Lee Smith has custom-built for his son Dylan to practice in and who has already made several snooker headlines in his quest to become a highly successful snooker player. A Kent Under-21s and National South Under-14s champion already. A room that was formally opened by the local Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, Greg Clark in 2020 and certainly looks the business with its impressive table.
The night was a mix of stories and jokes from two of my good friends, Colin Gross, son of the legendary Neasden snooker club owner, Ron and his equally funny compadre, Martin Glassett, accompanied by my pal, Richard Barnicoat as the referee. An eclectic mix that brilliantly complimented the numerous frames of snooker that Cliff played against various hopefuls and even a frame against Dylan Smith. Despite several potential threats, Cliff went into Grinder mode and brought back a flicker of the highly talented player he was in his time. A man with a very dry wit but one that could cut a knife through butter.
With added commentary from a few members of the seated audience and a walk-on lady, Annette or Nettie as she likes to be known, a brilliant atmosphere was created that engaged and entertained the snooker loving crowd. Those who turned also got the chance to have a professional photograph with Cliff, a raffle where all proceeds went to the worthy charity, Children with Cancer and various autographs from Thorburn on photographs and waistcoats.
Afterthought
Such evenings are vital to keeping alive the true nostalgia of snooker, promoting players past and present. The snooker message comes in so many forms and these gatherings are vital to engaging snooker fans, bringing friends together, an opportunity to network and have a few drinks and laughs on the way. This game is fascinating, electric and entertaining. It showcases the true skill of the player and promotes its enviable image to an existing, new and wider audience.
