Derek: A Caring Person

I had known Derek Townend for a year or two as a regular on the Mini-Prix circuit. I had played him a time or two, losing at least once, and respecting him as a tough opponent, I knew he was a B.& S.C.C. man and a friendly sort of a chap. And that is all. It was not until he began to get more involved with amateur billiards, and not until he asked my opinion on the feasibility of a series of amateurs only tournaments, that I began to get to know him a little as a man. We tend to go through life making acquaintances without giving much consideration to the fact that every one with whom we come into contact is an individually unique person each with their own tale to tell. So with Derek. He is a well-built man with something about him rather brusque and uncompromising, one could get quite the wrong impression; the reality of the man is something quite different.

Early Years

Derek was born long enough ago to have had to do his National Service (There are probably enough of us playing Mini-Prix to form a veterans association!) Before that he learned something about billiards by sitting in the local billiards hall and watching the play for something like three months before attempting to play on a full-sized table himself. Having taken the plunge he made good progress and was asked to represent the club in the league. He won his first game and was soon giving a good account of himself against the best players in the district. National Service changed his life - as it changed the lives of so many - and after his demob Derek played very little billiards finally giving up altogether as his job gave virtually no time for any play and, though he did not lose interest in the game he did not play again for some twenty years taking up the cue once more in 1979.

People who Care

What was he doing during those years? Derek spent virtually all of his working life in Public Service working with, and caring for, the aged and the infirm - and so did his wife Peggy. In case anyone does not know, this kind of work is arduous, tiring, stressful, sometimes dirty, it requires the patience of a Saint. It can be rewarding in many ways but financially is not one of them. This kind of work requires a particular kind of unselfish personality and one that is not common. Should anyone doubt this then let them try a few days in an Old People's Home - they would very soon find out.

Back to Billiards

When the chance came for Derek to resume his billiards there were no half measures. He took to practicing as much as he could and to such good effect as to win this year's Yorkshire Handicap Championship, beating that fine amateur Terry Ward in the final and making his top break in competition of 123. His top break in practice is 178 made quite recently. Derek plays at the, "Star Snooker," Leeds, and has for some years usually been 'in' the trophies, either as a member of the, "Star," billiards team, or in individual competitions, and has twice won the, "Star" President's Cup. The players he has most admired over the years have been Willie Smith, Norman Dagley, and Bob Close.

On the administrative side of the game, Derek is a qualified referee at billiards and snooker and is secretary of the Harrogate Referees Association. He is a member of the B.& S.C.C. and a qualified coach. He has refereed matches in the final stages of the English Amateur Billiards championship and his great ambition in this respect is to referee matches in the World Amateur Billiards Championship.

A.B.C

A.B.C. - Amateur Billiards Circuit - is a very recent innovation and is entirely the brainchild of Derek Townend. There has to date been two tournaments both of which are fully reported in this magazine. His motives were to promote the game amongst amateur players by providing tournaments in which young local players could be encouraged to compete.

Some Personal Views

"I would love to see a popular revival of the game but also see it keep its dignity. We should give every encouragement to youngsters in the sport - as they do on the Teesside. Take for example young David Causier. He is developing into a fine young man and I have no doubt that the self-discipline required in the game of billiards is helping him."

Derek is equally supportive of the professional player as his shown by his regular attendance at the Mini-Prix - but his views on the Professional game are controversial:-

"Professional Billiards at the moment seems to be in the doldrums. There appears to be no leadership in the game and no motivation from the ranks to have a go. For all the effort that the professional lads have put in over the years they deserve a better deal."

Well, that is uncompromising enough. He continues:-

"Throughout History billiards has been dominated by a handful of very skilful and gifted players. Today's game is no exception. What we should be doing is encouraging the popular game of billiards, the game that most people can understand and enjoy watching and not just the experts. We need to be providing entertainment for the spectators as well as enjoyment and satisfaction for the players, recruiting more people and putting more bottoms on seats."

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