Dick was born in Woolacombe, a village near Ilfracombe, just a little over 70 years ago, and has lived in the south-west all of his life. He started playing the game when quite young and was something of a snooker player as may be gathered by the fact that by the age of 15 he had made many century breaks and has a highest of 141 at the 22-ball-game. So good was he that he came to the notice of the great Tom Newman who was keen to take him under his wing. Snooker, in those days, was not the potentially lucrative proposition that it is these days, and Dick's father flatly refused permission for him to try his luck as a professional player.
Dick was also keenly interested in billiards and in those days before the war he made many century breaks. Whatever aspirations Dick might have had, they were - as were so many millions of people's -dramatically cut short by the outbreak of war in 1939. He joined the R.A.F, in 1941 serving all through the war as an armourer, working on fighter-bombers mainly at stations in Norfolk. It was whilst in the R.A.F, that Dick met his wife Bette who was at that time serving in the W.A.A.F. (Women's Auxiliary Air Force.) They have been married for 47 years and have two sons - won't be too long before the half-century' Dick. Bette is said to be his strongest supporter though she has been known to deny this.
After the war Dick resumed his billiards and snooker playing though he feels he never quite regained the form of his youth. However he regained it sufficiently to make a highest practice break of 510, and a highest in competition of 288, both of which would be form enough for most players. He also regained it sufficiently to win the Wessex billiards championship about 10 times, the Taunton, and the Yeovil championships, "many times," and the Devon championship once. In case anyone should think that such titles are easily come by down in that part of the world, they should be reminded that the south-west is one of the strongest billiards areas in the country. He showed that his old skill at snooker had not totally disappeared by winning the Somerset championship twice, and the 1982 Pontin's veteran's championship. Not only did Dick regain some form and retain it sufficiently to remain a force in the game, but he extended his repertoire to include Pool, at which game he has regularly represented Wessex and Somerset, has won the Pontin's Blackthorne Cider championship, and has reached the final of the Simonis British Open Championship. Dick reckons that one of his best performances, though a losing one, was against the great Norman Dagley in the semi-final of the 1962 C.I.U. He forgets exact details but remembers the game with a deal of pleasure. He has reached the later stages of the English Amateur many times.
But it was through playing in the Pro-Am mini-prix series that the Taunton man came to the wider attention of the billiard playing world. One of a band of travelling billiard players - Bill Andress, Brian Harvey, Ray Moore, and Mike Billinge - are the others, he was to be seen in venues all over the country and gained a reputation as a fine player and a more than just troublesome opponent. Perhaps, as for more than a few other players who could be mentioned, the Mini-Prix came just a little too late for Dick to make a greater impact, but he did reach the final at Dudley in '88 and has on many occasions been, "In the money," both in main competitions and in plates. He's also handed out a few billiards lessons on the way. One of his best performances was at the Harrogate event already mentioned, where he had the satisfaction of beating his great local rival Billy Andress by not very many and having to make a 101 to do it. With regard to the, "Have-cue-will-travel," Andress, Dick is eternally grateful for the many thousands of miles that Bill has chauffeured him to events all over the country. Dick has had lots of notable performances, his top break in the series is 154 and, if my memory serves me aright, he once had the satisfaction of beating the young Mike Russell. He also figured in one of the most remarkable plate matches ever. In that particular half-hour game he visited the table only twice, once to break off, and once to make a break of 47 unfinished. He lost by 261 His opponent, none other than Norman Dagley, made a break of 308. And so Dick played a half hour game, averaged 23.5 - and was beaten out of sight! Since the demise of the Mini-Prix Dick is a regular player in the ABC series. Dick reckons that he learned the game largely by watching better players. Though mainly an all-round performer he is able to keep them at the top now and again where his potting ability stands him in good stead. He still enjoys watching the top men and particularly Norman Dagley. He is a great admirer of Steve Davis ("The Gentleman,") and more recently of Stephen Hendry. Dick still tries to get a bit of practice every day and his ambition is to play as well as possible for as long as possible. Like many players he was, as a young man, interested in many sports and was a good enough footballer to captain his station team for three years during the war playing in a team which fielded two great Stanleys - Matthews and Mortensen no less. He was - and is -also very interested in cricket. An avid supporter of Somerset, he has for 13 years worked for the county as a part-time cashier being qualified as such after a working career for a finance company. He has a great appreciation of the efforts of all those who work so hard to keep billiards alive and writes, "I thoroughly enjoy the tournaments meeting all the other billiard fanatics and winning the odd game." Only the, "Odd game?" - come on Dick, we know you better than that! See you around.