James Mackenzie Williamson
(1929-2009)
A great beneficiary to the games of billiards & snooker
Jim Williamson died on 7th October 2009, aged 80 years after a long illness. It was with great pride that he was able to present the World Professional Billiards Championship winner’s trophy to Pankaj Advani the 23-year-old billiards wizard from Bangalore, India. For Jim It had been a lifetime ambition to stage the championship at the Northern Snooker Centre. His wish came true after he successfully struck a three year deal with the World Billiards Association to stage the billiards showpiece event of the year. It must have given Jim great satisfaction to know that the players and everyone involved in those championships over the past three years enjoyed immensely the playing conditions, the service, and the great atmosphere of tradition and interest at the Northern. The last time I spoke to Jim he said simply that he was pleased that the championship had gone so well and that the winner was a credit to the game.Jim Williamson was a patron of English Billiards for many years. He travelled many miles in support of the game and rubbed shoulders with the best. His love of the game and his interest never waned, right up to the end he was full of enthusiasm for the success of the tournaments and was keen to ensure that everyone enjoyed their time at the Northern.
Jim was the head of a very loyal and mutually supportive family. We extend our sympathies to Jim’s family in their grief at this time. Jim was a keen businessman whose ambition was to give his customers good service and the best playing conditions he could provide. He was very successful in his goals and we the billiards and snooker playing fraternity thank him for his efforts.