Tony Hawkins, a resident at Anchor’s Blackbrook House care home in Colchester, has dedicated so much of his life to the game of snooker. In recognition of this, colleagues at the home provided him with a very special gift; a pool table of his own.
Born in Dovercourt in 1936, Tony has been part of Colchester’s sporting history for over 50 years. In 1975, he and his father-in-law, Geoffrey Sleebush, opened the Colchester Billiards & Snooker Club on George Street (CBSC). It was the first club of its kind in the city, and it wasn’t long before players were travelling in from well beyond Colchester to play there.
Over the years, it hosted some big names in snooker, including a young Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Dennis Taylor, and Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins. Just as important though was who else came through the doors. Overseas students, local business owners, factory workers, teenagers, CBSC was open to everyone from all walks of life, united by a shared love of the game.
Although the club has since closed, its legacy has lived on. Even today, Tony is regularly recognised around Colchester by people keen to share stories and memories of the good old days at CBSC. It only felt right then for Tony to have his own table at Blackbrook House to celebrate this incredible legacy. The gift from the care team gives him the opportunity to keep enjoying the game that has shaped so much of his life.
Emilia Prosniewska, Home Manager at Anchor’s Blackbrook House Care Home, said: “Tony has told us so many stories about the club since he moved in, and you can still see how much it means to him every time he does. Giving him a table of his own felt like the least we could do to say thank you for a lifetime spent bringing people together.”
Tony added: “The club was my life for a very long time. It meant everything to me – all the people I met, all the memories we made together. Having my own table here means so much to me.”
