Snooker players pot round the clock in memory of John

Snooker stalwarts, back row from left, Alan Crossling, Dwane Douglas, John Borthwick, Liam Kelly and Bob Wakeham and, front row from left, Michael Guffick, Brian Minton, Paul Cox and Lee Fannon.

Members of the South Durhams Steelworks social club took to the baize for a 24-hour snooker marathon.

The members raise money for charity every year, and this year decided on the snookerthon in memory of former member and snooker league secretary John Cox.

Their tireless efforts raised £3,038, which John’s widow Glenys Cox recently presented to the James Cook University Hospital’s Renal Unit Trust Fund.

He had dialysis treatment for a kidney problem at the unit for several years before he died, aged 66, in May last year.

Glenys said: “John was really into his snooker. I think it was absolutely fantastic what they raised. He spent most of his time in the renal unit and thought it would be nice to give the money to them.”

Dwane Douglas, one of the snooker team, said: “John was a very good member of the club and town snooker league, so we decided to donate the money we raised to the unit.

“It was alright playing for the first 10 to 12 hours, but once we got to 4am we started to flag.

“But we just played in pairs all the way through to keep each other awake.  “It was a team effort and I think it was a fantastic result.”

In 2014 the lads raised over £1,000 for Hartlepool & District Hospice by growing their sideburns.

And the year before they grew moustaches to collect £1,200 for Hartlepool Over 50s and Disabled Snooker League in a Cash for Tache fundraiser.