By Elliott West
Introduction
As we approach a new year, it is always great to look forward to one of the highlights of the year, the Colin Gross Birthday Bash, held every January at the Dunstable Snooker Club in Bedfordshire. Taking place on the 8th January 2022, which happens to be my Mum’s birthday, this year’s event will be attended by professional snooker player, Stuart Bingham. A night of snooker, charity raising and the notorious karaoke with all money raised going to Children with Cancer UK. This night in previous years has raised £25,000 for this fantastic cause.
The Man Himself
Anyone who has spent time with Colin Gross, son of the legendary Ron, knows that you always leave his company with a smile on your face and the feeling that you have had a brilliant time. Colin is a showman, probably one of the best compères that I know and does a great double act with his good friend Martin Glassett. Humour is so important in my book and Colin has it in abundance, so it was weird not being able to meet up with him over the last two years due to Covid restrictions.
It’s great to see Colin pain free now after his back operation because I am never settled at an event until he comes over to me and gives me his customary tap on the shoulder. Gross is someone who has lived through many eras of snooker and is never short of a story from the old days, some repeatable and others I will keep to myself.
The Bash
You have to attend a Colin Gross birthday bash to be able to describe the atmosphere. It is a meeting of old friends, a large section of the snooker community and a chance to let your hair, not that I have much to let down and put the strains of daily life away for a few hours. You will laugh, produce the odd tear and make multiple trips to the bar but it will be a joyous night and next year it will cost you a mere £25 per person.
