Creator of the modern game.....

[JParrott1]

I believe the creator of the modern game of snooker, as we know it, is actually ex prime minister Neville Chamberlain. My knoweledge is sketchy to say the least but I beleieve he was playing out in India at the time and decidied to add a few different colours, I think they were the blue brown and pink, but I'm not too sure.


Anyone else have more thoughts or info on this?

[Blondie]

I believe the creator of the modern game of snooker, as we know it, is actually ex prime minister Neville Chamberlain. My knoweledge is sketchy to say the least but I beleieve he was playing out in India at the time and decidided to add a few different colours, I think they were the blue brown and pink, but I'm not too sure.


Anyone else have more thoughts or info on this?

Hi JP,

........and this is an interesting one..:), interesting in that you think it maybe ex-Priminister Neville Chamberlain, and I think it may have been first created by Colonel Sir Neville Chamberlain, who developed it from a combination of pyramid pool and life pool. [And not too sure about these pool games, rulings etc, but know doubt the guys will know.] And I think CSNC was based in a British Army Officer's Mess in India. [Don't quote me on this :) , or the date, but maybe the 1870's..]

And the term "Snooker", came about from the royal military academy, who called their first year cadets "Snookers", and when the cadets/officers were playing, if they missed a shot, CSNC would call them a 'Snooker', and I think this referred to their lack of experience in playing, or something like that. And then this led on to the game being called snooker...

And not too sure after that, although I know the great Joe Davis did his bit in promoting snooker throughout the world.....

And a little sketchy from me too JP, and I remember a few bits of this from when my grandad told me. And there's probably lots of other stories too, in terms of origin, and place, and no doubt the guys here will know more too...

And interesting thread....

Lol....xx

[Monique]

See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snooker

If this is not correct/complete it's time TSF "specialists" have a go on wikipedia ...;)

[davis_greatest]

Hehe, indeed the Neville Chamberlain credited with the invention of snooker (full name Sir Neville Francis Fitzgerald Chamberlain) was not the same person as former UK prime minister Neville Chamberlain (full name Arthur Neville Chamberlain)... :)

[Aggrolite]

Just reading that Wikipedia thing......so much nonsense throughout it. So much opinion rather than fact. It saddens me that this is where so many people get their information about things these days.

[Wity]

Perhaps a more reliable source?

http://www.thurstonsnooker.co.uk/Pages/SnookerHistory.html

(Even though they call it a sport which i never will.)

[JParrott1]

Well I've succesfully embarassed myself there. So it was [B]a[B] nevil chamberlain, but not the ex prime minister neville chamberlain.

[The Statman]

With much thanks to 100-uper and hegeland, here is some very interesting stuff: http://www.thesnookerforum.com/snooker-history-45/interesting-historic-facts-1761.html

Among other things, it makes clear that, not only was 'our' Neville Chamberlian not the same bloke who was prime minister, but he also is not the same Neville Chamberlain that I thought was the one buried in a Southampton churchyard (although he is a relative)!

[100-uper]

If anyone wants a PDF copy of the latest revision to my article (Oct. 2006) on the origins of snooker, which currently appears in rather disorganised form on both IBSF websites, just pm your email address and I will send it through.