This calamity fell on the small village of Grassmoor, Derbyshire, in the early hours of Sunday morning, November 19, 1933, taking in its toll the lives of club billiards players from this and the surrounding villages.
Howarth Nuttall, of Nottingham, immediately got in touch with Mr. J. Gibbs, the Area Secretary of the Working Men's Club, and Institute Union, and readily offered the service of Willie Leigh, the billiards professional, for a series of five exhibition games at various places. As there were no conditions whatever to the offer (a collection at each place where Leigh played, and the proceeds, without any deduction whatever, to be handed to the Grassmoor Colliery Disaster Fund), it was immediately accepted, with the result that the fund has benefited to the extent of £10 7s. 9d.
Notts. County Mental Hospital, Radcliffe-on-Trent, was the venue for the first exhibition, and here Leigh played Jock Nuttall, son of the organiser. Breaks of 123 and 105, were followed by three just under 100, and Leigh finished an easy winner.
The collection amounted to £2 1s.
Of the few patients present, one was pleased to see them put their "mite" on the plate, when same was passed round.
The venue for the second exhibition was the Grassmoor Workmen's Club (in the immediate vicinity of the explosion). Leigh there played two of the club members at billiards {Messrs. H. Whitmore and G. Smithard).
Leigh proved the better player in each case, although Whitmore put up a very gallant show. A 90 break by Leigh only just put the other man second best. There was a large attendance of members, including two of the survivors of the disaster, Messrs. B. Smith and A. Ellis. The collection realized £1 10s., which is considered very good in view of the fact that the majority of spectators were men who had suffered, owing to the aftereffect of the explosion.
The third and fourth exhibitions were played on Thursday evening, December 7, the venues being Mr. J. G. Severn's Billiard Hall, Alfreton, and Mr. H. Fletcher's Billiard Hall, Somercotes.
The collection at Alfreton realised £3 3s. 3d. (Mr. J. G. Severn contributing £2 2s.); and at Somercotes £2 5s. 6d. (Mr. Williams, of Ripley, contributing £1).
At Severn's Billiard Hall, Alfreton, he met Mr. D. Buckley, of Alfreton, at billiards, and showing brilliant form, he scored 750 points in one hour and ten minutes, whilst his opponent compiled 85.
Leigh's chief breaks were 77, 72, 88, 73, 48, 88, and 144. He also defeated Mr. J. Allsop, of Alfreton, in the snooker game.
At Fletcher's Billiard Hall, Somercotes, Leigh beat Mr. J. Dawes by a substantial margin. His best breaks here were 125, 54, 64, 112, and 43, whilst Mr. Dawes' best efforts were 57 and 20.
Leigh, however, was beaten by Mr. F. Riley, a local snooker enthusiast, by the last ball. Mr. Riley got the black, and finished a smart winner.