Fond farewell to snooker’s Mr Maximum
SNOOKER legend bowed out in style family paid tribute
“Mr Maximum”.
Willie, 66, who died last week, would have had a smile on his face as the sound of the Chas and Dave hit, Snooker Loopy, brought his funeral service in Spain to a close.
His twin sons, Tristan and Kieran, 35, and daughter Tahli, 32, were joined by his close pal, former player John Virgo, 74, who read the eulogy, and around 100 friends and fans.
Some of his carers, who had looked after him as his health deteriorated, were also there to pay their respects.
Willie, who was at one time ranked number seven in the world, earned his nickname because of his ability to make breaks of the 147 maximum.
As his coffin left the church near Torrevieja, a mini snooker table, complete with a pair of cues and the number 147, was placed on top.
A message from snooker’s governing bodies read: “With a presence in a room like no other, the great WT.
“You will be sadly missed. With enormous thanks for the years, months, days, hours and every minute spent with us.”
Willie, who in the past had battled prostate cancer, died from sepsis in a
Willie Thorne as friends and to the sport’s
Spanish hospital after being diagnosed with leukaemia in March.
He had been having chemotherapy but after falling ill last week, he was placed into an induced coma.
His friend Julie O’Neill, 38, who helped arrange yesterday’s service, said: “It was lovely. Everyone did him really proud.”
During snooker’s boom years in the 1980s Willie was one of the most recognisable faces in the UK. Together with other stars of the sport, he featured on the 1986 hit Snooker Loopy.
After his death, his friend, exEngland football star Gary Lineker, wrote: “A marvellous snooker player and a lovely man.”