To all of you you read this blog, have a merry Christmas.
Whatever Christmas means to you, be it a religious celebration, the pagan welcoming of the return of Day light, just an opportunity to have some good time, or even nothing at all, please cherish your loved ones on this day, and every day, tell them how much you love them, spoil them, do it NOW, because nobody knows the day nor the hour… they might no more be with you tomorrow.
Monique.
Today, the snooker world took farewell of Billy O’Connor, a talented young snooker player, but more importantly a very nice, selfless and ever brave person.
Worldsnooker pays tribute to Billy
Tuesday 22 Dec 2015 01:28PM
Friends and family of Billy O’Connor gathered in Dagenham today for the funeral of the former England junior captain who sadly died this month at the age of 18.
Snooker players including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stuart Bingham, Judd Trump, Jack Lisowski, Oliver Lines and Sean O’Sullivan were there to remember Billy, whose brave three-year battle with cancer ended on December 9th.
Billy first played snooker at the age of three and first represented England in 2009. He went on to captain the under-16 team when they won the Home Internationals title in 2012.
Last year he organised an 24-hour snooker marathon at Upton Park Snooker Club which raised £11,000 – for more details click here.
He continued to play snooker in between his treatment for illness, and as recently as September reached the last 16 of an EASB Premier Tour event.
Our deepest sympathies go to Billy’s parents Debbie and Barry and all of his family and friends at this sad time.
To read more about him click here
Ronnie, reigning World Champion Stuart Bingham, Sean O’Sullivan, Jack Lisowski and Django Fung were amongst the pall-bearers.
Mark King should have been there as well, as Billy’s family had asked him to be one of the pall-bearers. Mark was playing in the Senior World Championship qualifiers and did ask Worldsnooker if it would be possible to play his last match early so that he could be back in Essex in time to honour Billy. Unfortunately this couldn’t be arranged (and poor Mark lost his last match as well).
The local press also published this moving tribute to Billy
Yesterday, a very talented young player, Billy O’Connor passed away, and his management, Grove, published this article.
Farewell Billy
9 DECEMBER 2015
Billy O’Connor has lost his battle against cancer this morning. For four years, he fought against the disease, showing great courage, he never gave up. He was a lovely person and a great snooker talent. Ronnie O’Sullivan himself had tipped him to become a great of the game. Unfortunately, this terrible disease has robbed him of his future and his dreams. It’s a great loss for snooker, and an even greater loss for his family, his friends, and us, at Grove, who have managed and supported him since the age of nine. We are devastated. Our thoughts go out to his family.
Rest in peace, Billy, you will be in our hearts forever.
Ronnie, who was managed by Grove himself in the past and rated Billy very highly – as a person and a player – expressed his sorrow at the news as well as his support to Billy’s family .
This morning, he tweeted :
Devastated to hear about billy. Thoughts with his family. Always had a smile on his face, so brave. Rest in peace x
Ronnie turns 40 today!
An opportunity to thank him for all those moments he brought us, the joy and sometimes the madness.
Thank you Ronnie for making this game look so simple, beautiful and fascinating.
Just be happy!
A good day to remember his achievements and some great milestones and records.
