Snooker legends have attended a memorial service paying tribute to John Virgo, one of the sport’s greats, following his death at the age of 79.
Former world champions such as Dennis Taylor, Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis were seen today arriving at the service at Sheffield Cathedral.
Virgo’s widow Rosie Ries was also among those there, along with snooker favourites including Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, John Higgins, Cliff Thorburn, Shaun Murphy and John Parrott.
Virgo, widely known as the BBC’s ‘voice of snooker’ for his commentary work, died in February this year.
After having success as a player in the 1970s and 1980s, he went on to be co-host of BBC1’s Saturday night primetime show Big Break alongside presenter Jim Davidson.
Taylor, who won the snooker world championship in 1985, said ahead of today’s service and this year’s finals due to start on Saturday: ‘Everyone is going to miss his commentary when the snooker starts this weekend. I know I will.
‘All his catchphrases like “Where’s the cue ball going?” will be missing. It is not going to be the same.
‘Will I say any of John’s catchphrases? Nah. I used to use “Where’s the cue ball going?” But John made it his own. What a showman, what a commentator and what an entertainer he was. He had it all.’
Today’s service was arranged by 1997 world snooker champion Doherty and master of ceremonies Rob Walker.
Entry was offered to 600 people on a basis of first come, first served.
Today’s event follows the funeral held for Virgo on St Valentine’s Day, February 14, in Spain.
After being born on March 4 1946 in Salford, lifelong Manchester United fan Virgo’s fascination with snooker had an unlikely source during his childhood.
He was fascinated by a broken snooker cue used by his mother to unfasten an airing rack from the ceiling of the family home in a terraced row in Salford.
He then received his first snooker baize as an eight-year-old on Christmas Day 1954 – used for playing frames when draping the 6ft 3in surface across the dinner table.
Virgo’s teenage years spending much of his time in a Temperance Billiards Hall in Manchester honed his craft.
His teenage years in such venues also introduced him to betting on horses and greyhounds – ultimately playing a more damaging role in the years to come.
The 1970s saw snooker begin to thrive as a hit with viewers, boosted by the introduction of spread of colour television, and Virgo turned professional in 1976.
Three years later came his finest triumph, defeating Terry Griffiths in the 27th frame of that year’s UK Championship.
But Virgo would later remember it as both the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ day of his life, when speaking in 2017 to promote his autobiography.
He said: ‘They’d changed the time of the final without telling me and I was six miles away in my hotel.
‘I arrived, panicking, 25 minutes late, got penalised two frames and the crowd booed me. I was shaking so much I don’t know how I played.
‘And, to top it all, the BBC cameramen were out on strike. So, instead of winning live on Grandstand, there’s no footage of me lifting the trophy in glory.’
But he added: ‘OK, it could have been worse. Let’s say it was the best and worst day of my life.’
Virgo reached his all-time rankings high of 10 that season, adding the Bombay International and the Pontins Professional titles in 1980.
His best major tournament finish to follow was reaching the semi-finals of the British Open in 1986 but he dropped out of the elite top 16 in 1990-1991 and retired in 1994.
By then he had already started appearing as referee and sidekick to Davidson on Big Break – having been recruited following his jocular appearances as exhibition shows.
Virgo recalled: ‘I got a phone call asking me if I wanted to do a TV show with Jim Davidson.
‘The viewing figures were amazing and we peaked at almost 14million. People were gutted when it ended.’
Its success led to John’s own range of waistcoats, books, apps and pantomime appearances – while he remained a popular part of the BBC’s snooker commentary team, up to and including January’s Masters at Alexandra Palace, north London.
But he described his most provident moment as finally getting a date with publishing executive Rosie Ries, having known her for two decades.
Virgo said: ‘A mate tried to set us up years ago but then his girlfriend said she wouldn’t be interested in me.
‘I was so frightened of a knockback, I didn’t ask her for out for 22 years. By then I’d lived on my own for five years and I needed that time to recentre myself.
‘But eventually we went on a date. I used my wit, charm and repartee on her and, blow me down, two months later we got engaged.’
The couple were married since 2009.
He had two children from his previous marriages, to Susan and Avril – son Gary and daughter Brook-Leah.
