Thomas Bradlaugh Leng, known as T.B. Leng, was a referee for the cue sports of snooker and English billiards. (plus owned club?)

Biography

(approx DOB) llived on Balham High Road[1]

In tabloid newspaper The People, Leng claimed that he could drive a car, play cards, and read while blindfolded, as long as he was accompanied by someone to "aid the mental telepathy". The reported claimed that in a demonstrion, Leng had been able to repeat a phrase that the reported had written whilst Leng was blindfolded. Leng issued a challenge, saying that he believed there was nothing supernatural in any magician's act, and that he would bet £1,000 equivalent to $81,505 in 2023 against anyone who claimed to be able to prove that "x-ray eyes" existed.[2]

During a match between Sydney Lee and Tom Newman at [[Thurston's Hall] in 1940, the referee Charles Chambers became ill and was unable to continue; Lenf, who was in the audience, stepped in to referee the match.[3]

He refereed the 1946 World Snooker Championship final between Joe Davis and Horace Lindrum.[4]

Beaufort Club London proprietor; ref 1947 final; "knows the rules backwards, forwards and in every trickster form that any player can put to him"; taught by Chambers; due to ill health, Leng looking to step back - Bruce Donkin his protoge[5]

The London newspaper Truth called Leng "the game's senior referee"; resigned over a dispute about free balls[6]

When Horance Lindrum planned to come to England to play in WSC, he sent Leng a telegram asking him to arrange matches [7] Leng placed announcement in billaird player Beaufot Leiceseter Sq "available for club engagements"[8]

Leng spent about 15 years as a sailor from the age of 13; he once broke 22 bones in a fall from the top of a ship and was hospitalised for 49 weeks, the first two while unconscious; he flew and drove for leisure; and he ran his own snooker club, The Beaufort, in Lisle Street, London;[9]

Club in Balham where Clark McConacy was resident professional.[10]


Snooker Scene Aug 1993 - Lowe article p/22

club official opening The Norwood News 19 Feb 1937, Fri ·Page 13

The Norwood News 01 Oct 1937, Fri · Page 3

The Norwood News 08 Oct 1937, Fri · Page 6

The People 24 Oct 1937, Sun · Page 11

Sunday Pictorial 10 Oct 1937, Sun · Page 43

The Norwood News 17 Dec 1937, Fri · Page 13

The Norwood News 31 Dec 1937, Fri · Page 5

Daily Herald. 25 Jan 1940, Thu · Page 10

Western Morning News 04 Feb 1947, Tue · Page 5

Dundee Courier - Wednesday 31 August 1949


LS Hall "Ts to be controlled by a panel of three: Miss Joyce Gardner, former woman billiards champion; Mr. T. B. Leng, a well-known referee; and Mr. Ted Lowe, who represents the man behind the whole scheme, Mr. Bob Jelks."[11]

BP Feb 47 - ref for all London WSC heats, fee to Char X

BP November 1947 - Leng refereed LS Hall opening night.

died 1965? (TBC)[12]

References

  1. ^ "(untitled article)". Sunday Pictorial. 10 October 1937. p. 43.
  2. ^ "Blindfolded this man can drive a car, read a paper; x-ray eyes all bunkum he says". The People. 24 October 1937. p. 11.
  3. ^ "Sydney Lee takes snooker lead". Daily News. London. 5 January 1940.
  4. ^ "News of the month: world's professional snooker championship". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. April 1946. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Calling all referees". The Billiard Player. January 1948. p. 5.
  6. ^ "Green grass and blue water". Truth. 27 February 1948. p. 12.
  7. ^ "Snooker challenge". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 18 February 1949. p. 12.
  8. ^ "(untitled)". The Billiard Player. March 1949. p. 7.
  9. ^ "T.B. Leng". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. June 1946. pp. 6–7.
  10. ^ Norwood News. 1 October 1937. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ Tattersall's Club Managzines,October 1947, Vol 20 No. 8 by Tattersall's Club, Sydney p17 "Some Thurstons History
  12. ^ "Notices under the Trustee Act, 1925, s.27". The London Gazette. 22 June 1965. p. 6052.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft:T.B._Leng
No tags for this post.