Snooker greats salute Hunter

The snooker world paid its final tributes to Paul Hunter today, 10 days after the 27-year-old Yorkshireman died from cancer.

Wife Lindsey led the 1,400 mourners at Leeds Parish Church, accompanied by 10-month-old daughter Evie Rose and Hunter’s parents, Alan and Christina.

The hour-long public service was followed by a private cremation at Lawnswood Crematorium.

The game’s top players joined the congregation, as did many rank-and-file cuemen, rarely seen on television or in the major tournaments.

Welshman Matthew Stevens, twice a world championship runner-up, was among the pall bearers, along with fellow players Jimmy Michie and Darren Clarke.

There was even a surprise appearance by Alex Higgins, heads turning as the 53-year-old Ulsterman took his seat.

Higgins, who fought a successful battle against cancer of the lymph nodes, was coming to the end of his controversial career when Hunter joined the paid ranks in 1995.

Former world champion and world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan was in tears at the end of a moving service conducted by the Reverend Canon Tony Bundock.

Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, John Parrott, Dennis Taylor, John Virgo, Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Peter Ebdon, Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins, Dominic Dale, Stuart Bingham, Nigel Bond, Stephen Lee, Mark Williams and Michael Holt all attended to pay their respects.

So too did the sport’s referees: Alan Chamberlain, Peter Williamson, Jan Verhaas, Eirian Williams, Haydn Parry, John Williams and the now retired Len Ganley.

Many players were too upset to speak after the ceremony, but Willie Thorne said: “He’s just going to be so sadly missed.

“I admired the kid so much, he battled so very hard these last two or three years.”

Taylor said: “Paul just stood out a mile. He was just so good for our game.

“It’s just a dreadfully sad loss. He would have certainly been a world champion, that’s for sure.”

Doherty added: “I can’t believe we still won’t be seeing him back on the circuit.”

The Rector of Leeds provided an unintentional moment of humour in his eulogy. Describing Hunter’s first of three victories in the Wembley Masters in 2001, Canon Bundock spoke of ’Plan 8’ which Hunter put into place during the mid-session interval.

It had been ’Plan B’- a love break at the hotel with Lindsey, then his fiancée.

She stayed serene and calm throughout the ceremony, supporting Hunter’s father and also turning to smile at baby Evie, dressed not in black, but cheery pink.

Lindsey read a poem about her husband’s life, while the ceremony started with music from Rocky III ‘Gonna Fly Now’ and ended with Lonestar’s ’Amazed’.

Father Alan paid tribute to Hunter.

“He never said, ’Why me?’, he just said, ’I’ve been dealt a bad card’.”

Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of World Snooker and also a Yorkshireman, fought back tears during his tribute.

He described Hunter as an “inspiration to all those who knew him and all those who looked on with so much admiration”.

He added: “Paul was known for his sportsmanship. He never made excuses in defeat. He always congratulated opponents and genuinely wished them success.

“Even at his 17-16 defeat to Ken Doherty in the 2003 (world championship) semi-final he smiled and said ‘It’s only a game’.

“Paul met triumph and disaster and treated those two imposters just the same.”

Sir Rodney added: “Even last year after the diagnosis of cancer he still spent time after matches meeting his opponents.

“He was popular. His charisma and flamboyant approach to snooker made him one of the sport’s biggest draws.”

Canon Bundock added: “Paul is not just a loss to his family and friends but a great loss to the city of Leeds and the county of Yorkshire. He was always a proud Leeds man and a proud Yorkshireman.

“And Leeds and Yorkshire have always been proud of Paul.

“I’m told Lindsey was offered referred to as Paul’s ’Rock’. Her response was to say when you are holding on to a man as courageous as Paul it’s easy to be her rock.

“Her personal message is: ’Paul you are and will always be the only one. You have my heart and I will ensure Evie Rose will be a credit to you and lives her life as you would want’.”