By Elliott West
Introduction
Snooker has a glittering array of champions with some names falling off your tongue. However, a name that is rarely mentioned is the former World Snooker Champion, John Pulman. John was champion from 1957-1968, winning the 1957 Championship and retaining the title across seven challenges from 1964-1968, three against Fred Davis and two against Rex Williams. A flag bearer of the game during the 1950s and 1960s, players like Pulman helped guide snooker through its unpopularity during this period to laying the seeds of the modern game.
Career
John Pulman was born in 1923 in Devon. His father owned a bakery and confectionery business but in 1929 decided to sell it. With the proceeds, his father Herbert, bought a billiard hall that had two tables. John started playing billiards, aged nine and by the age of twelve, made his first century break. Pulman attended Exeter Episcopal School and was a great sportsman during this time, a swimming champion and representing Exeter at water polo.
In 1938, Pulman entered the British Boys Billiards Championship but left his cue on the train on his way to the event at Burroughs Hall. Arriving at the venue and in a panic, he was allowed to choose one from a selection of cues. The cue John chose, had a plate attached to it with the player’s name, Sidney Smith on it. Subsequently, Pulman filed the name off, saying that it would be inappropriate for him to use a cue with another player’s name on it.
During the Second World War, John worked in a Spitfire factory for three months, making wings for the planes as part of an army unit. After the war, Pulman won the 1946 English Amateur Championship, beating Albert Brown in the final 5-3. He turned professional shortly after this win. Competing in the 1948 Championship, John flew through the qualifying rounds with a fantastic last match, beating Willie Leigh 18-17 on the final black. However in the first round, he was beaten by Clark McConachy 29-42.
In 1948, John came second to Joe Davis in the Sunday Empire News Tournament, winning £400, £150 for qualifying and £250 for finishing second. At the start of his professional career, Pulman lived at the house of his patron, Bill Lampard, a confectioner from Bristol. Lampard built a billiard room in his house so Pulman could practice but a dispute ensued after John allegedly was caught in bed with his wife, a claim made by Clive Everton.
The rest you could say is history with the player winning the News of the World Snooker Tournament in 1954 and 1957 and victor in the World Snooker Championship between 1964-1968. He also won the Conayes Professional Tournament in 1964 and the 1973 World Plate Championship and was runner-up in a number of tournaments, including the 1970 World Snooker Championship where he lost to Ray Reardon 33-37.
John achieved his highest ranking when the system was introduced, reaching seventh in the 1977-1978 season. In 1979, Pulman was declared bankrupt with debts of £5,916. A recent divorce, left the player living in a hotel and suffering from motivational problems. To top this off, he had a major accident when a London bus knocked him down and a result, he spent six months in hospital. Pulman retired shortly afterwards, saying that it was not the accident that made him retire but the fact that he had become disillusioned with snooker.
Commentary Career
During this period, John was approached by ITV to do some commentary work for the channel. Pulman had already done bits and bobs for the BBC and STV. He was once invited by Trevor East on a trip to Dublin in 1984. During a wet lunch, one that lasted nine hours, Pulman was asked whether he wanted to commentate at the Benson and Hedges Masters. John agreed and the trip went on for another two days. John Pulman went on to be an established commentator with a distinct voice and for me, one of the best of his time. A firm supporter of Steve Davis, believing that a player didn’t mature until the age of forty.
Summary
John Pulman sadly passed away in 1998, after a bad fall at his home in Northampton. An ambassador of the sport in the wilderness years, Pulman was one of several professional, including Ray Reardon, John Spencer and Cliff Wilson, who travelled the length and breadth of the country, doing exhibitions in working men’s clubs and holiday camps. Times were hard for snooker players at that time and there was very little money to earn playing tournaments. So this was the only way for them to supplement their salary. Pulman should be remembered for being an ambassador of snooker and a fine player. Someone who won the the World Championship on multiple occasions.
