Collector's may recall that in the February Issue of the B.Q.R. I mentioned how I had come across a rare copy of Dufton, "Practical Billiards." This resulted in the following most interesting letter from that great enthusiast for the game Mr. Norman Macleod.
"Dear Tom, Thanks a lot for the February issue of the Billiards Quarterly Review - which as usual was packed with interest. I have been a billiards addict for over sixty years, so now that I have retired I have made a hobby of collecting books on the game. Even in my early teens I remember searching second-hand bookshops for books on billiards. This was when I acquired, "Cook on Billiards," signed by Alfred Bowles. This latter played John Roberts Jnr. in the Professional Billiards Championship of 1870. Your reference to acquiring Dufton's, "Practical Billiards," reminded me of a recent acquisition of mine. A few weeks ago I was thrilled to obtain from a London bookshop fifteen books that originally belonged to Miss Joyce Gardner. In the thirties Joyce was seven times Women's Professional Billiards Champion and four times Snooker Championship finalist. The books are in mint condition. Eight of them are signed by the author and five of the volumes are dedicated to Joyce by the author. Six of the books are by that prince of billiards writers, Riso Levi, and three of these contain verses written by Riso to Joyce, one of them reads:-
To Joyce Gardner with all good wishes for her future. Riso Levi, 4th February 1931.
From the ether I hear a low voice
Take note of the billiards of Joyce
Her skill at the game
Will bring her great fame
And cause all her friends to rejoice
I particularly like, "yours cuely, Tom Reece," in his own copy of, "Dainty Billiards." Stanley Newman writes in his, "How to play Snooker," "Dear Joyce Gardner, Would you please accept this humble work of mine as a token of the great appreciation of the many games we have played on behalf of the Red Cross and Services fund. Other volumes include, "Roberts on Billiards," and Sydney Lee's, "Billiards." When I wrote to Lee about six years ago he hadn't got a copy himself. Other signed copies include books by Davis and Newman. I am intrigued by an inscription in Reece's, "Billiards," which reads - "Miss Joyce Gardner, New Holborn Billiard Hall, London from Pat." I wonder if anyone now remembers the New Holborn Billiard Hall and Joyce's connection with it. Joyce Gardner seems to have been a wonderful person. It would be fascinating to hear more about her career and wonder if any of your readers could supply any information.
So as you say - Keep Looking. The Joyce Gardner collection now has a special place on my bookshelves and it's awesome to think that the books have been handled by such famous people from the history of billiards.
Yours Sincerely,