It is 40 years ago to the month that the great billiards writer Riso Levi died. The well-known Yorkshire cueman Alan Firth is one of a dwindling band of players who stayed with Levi at his home for some coaching by the great man (The BQR Editor is another). Here Alan tells the story of his visit and his memories of old Riso.
It would be around 1949 and I would be about 21 years of age when I went as a paying guest to the home of Riso Levi in Carwood Road, Wilmslow, in Cheshire. The circumstances which led to this visit I recall, were, that at that time a playing friend and myself were performing very much above average in local competition and together we asked the local secretary E. Rosse Hopkinson, how we should approach obtaining professional tuition (remember this is in 1949). Rosse, as he was widely known, contacted Fred Davis who himself declined but suggested Willie Smith as being the most appropriate man in our part of the country.
Meanwhile, I had written to Riso Levi on behalf of my friend and myself to ascertain the position with him. Well, my letter literally opened the flood gates to a deluge of correspondence from the great man. Each letter, and they arrived every few days such was his enthusiasm and industry, consisted of at least ten sheets of handwriting, closely written in green ink and on air mail paper. It is with some regret that, although I have kept many items of memorabilia, I did not keep, after a few years, those letters. However, the outcome of this correspondence was, that after discussing the situation with my friend, I would go to Wilmslow for two weeks and upon my return and in the light of my experience, he could then go if he wished. In the event he did not go and I am sure it was a wise decision. Cometh the day and, armed with a Harry Virr 15.5 ounce cue and a small suitcase, I entrained for Wilmslow change at Manchester. I arrived I believe mid-late afternoon and was admitted by the housemaid and taken to my room. Dinner was taken around 7.45 p.m. and there I met Riso Levi himself.
We talked billiards over dinner and my host outlined how the days were to be spent in the billiard room along with a few other domestic details, this because his wife Gladys was away somewhere, I cannot remember where, but was expected back before the end of the week. Due to my wish for a, 'full English breakfast,' this would be prepared for me in the kitchen, whilst a light lunch would be taken in the billiards room and dinner in the dining room. On occasion a guest would be present and the conversation general. RL himself at that time was quite elderly (84) and his guests predictably, were, whilst not of the seniority of their host, quite mature in years. The level and context of the conversation was therefore somewhat removed from the experience of myself the youngest guest. However, this situation relaxed considerably upon the return of Gladys Levi towards the end of the first week when the atmosphere in the house became distinctly sunnier due no doubt to maternal instincts prevailing. Baths however, still could not be taken at random, rather the housemaid had to be advised of your wish to do so, whereupon she would run the water and provide adequate warm towels.
In the evenings on most nights, RL would have arranged for a local player to come to the house for a few hours play with me, thus allowing himself a short respite. One such visitor I remember, was a very capable player rejoicing in the name of Sidebottom, which name when applied to a
billiards player I found hilarious, but when recounting this in later years no-one seemed to find so. Sidebottom I do recall had to enter and leave by the tradesman's entrance! In the daytime RL would enter the billiard room in the late morning and then through the afternoon, would set some exercise at which I would persevere until it became apparent that I had reached as far as I was going to at that particular stroke at that time. An example would be where the object ball would be placed initially about 6"along the bottom right hand cushion and about 1" from it. The cue ball would be about 4"from the object ball at an angle of about 60/70 degrees (back towards the pocket) the shot being to screw back along the bottom cushion into the right hand bottom pocket. Upon three consecutive attempts, the object ball would be moved further and further towards the centre of the table along the bottom cushion and still about 1 inch from it.
RL would be seated up to the table at the baulk end, inching towards the centre of the bottom cushion as the session progressed. Why he chose the bottom cushion for this exercise I don't think I asked, but I do remember that his table was fitted with returner channels which are useful for red ball play although when using them I found that the white ball took a very long time to come to hand. Had we used the top end then the channels would have had to be blocked to prevent the cue ball escaping to the bottom of the table.
As the days went by and at the beginning or at the end of sessions I was shown all his gimmicks and artefacts which he used to prove some particular effect or other. Unfortunately, this was not new to me since I had read his works exhaustively before my visit and was quite prepared to accept his findings upon the throw angle of ebony or steel balls, none if I remember correctly in the case of steel. However, it is a great benefit to be in the presence of such a guru in-as-much as you are then able to obtain his views upon the aspects of the game on which you are uncertain. There is no doubt in my mind that the Riso Levi books are the definitive publications on English billiards and it is the clarity of description of the technical drawings coupled with the interestingly written narrative that make the works unique, and whilst cues, balls, cloths, cushions, pocket shapes, etc, will change, the books are essential reading for those who desire a fundamental understanding of the game.
Let me try to bring to a conclusion these recollections of yesteryear by reporting that I left Wilmslow about Thursday of the second week in order to have a few days recuperation before resuming my gainful employment. Before leaving and on the final day in the billiards room, I remember my host placing a piece of plate glass about one foot square upon the table. He then placed the red ball in the centre and I was invited to place a white ball wherever I wished behind the red and screw back of the glass. In the event of my being successful at this stroke he would waive all fees due to him by myself as a paying guest. I do not think that previously he had ever had to do so, and he was not required to do so on this occasion, although strangely I have never attempted to do so with the new balls.
Whilst in retrospect, my visit did not I believe improve my game one jot, this perhaps being in some way due to my hosts great age at the time of meeting and also because I was very au fait with his writings I nevertheless less feel privileged to have spent the time I have recounted in his company. Riso died in April 1952 at the age of 86 years.