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Jim Lees

Postby donthittheblue

Does anyone know what happened to former professional Jim Lees.

I've deduced that Rex Williams is the last surviving player from the pre-1969 World Championship 'or the pre-modern era'* formats however with the one crucial exception of Jim Lees who turned up at the 1954 championships.

He also appears as a qualifier in 1947 but seems to have dropped off the face of the snooker planet after his brief career. I'd hazard a guess he's unlikely to still be around, but there seems to be nothing on him?

Does anyone know what happened to him and if he's still alive?

*This makes the assumption that none of the pre-war players are somehow still alive.
*This also only applies to the final stages of the tournament, whilst it appears most of the qualifiers from this era are dead I've not fact-checked them all in the way I've done for final stage players.

Re: Jim Lees

Postby mick745

I have found a date of birth for him of 1908. I would hazard a guess that he is no longer with us.

Re: Jim Lees

Postby mick745

A man with the same name and of the right age died in Fulham in 1965.

Re: Jim Lees

Postby donthittheblue

Nice work Mick. Going by this photo op I'd agree assuming players are named in order that would put him 50s in it....

https://twitter.com/barkingcentre/statu ... 13153?s=21

I assume the DOB you found was snooker news based rather than just any old Jim Lees from 1908, if so good work I spent ages looking for one the other day.

Re: Jim Lees

Postby mick745

Hi yes.

Actually page 137 of John Kobylecky's book The Complete International Directory of snooker players gives his birth date as 8/9/08.

His name is given as H. Jim Lees. I checked the birth registry for anyone of that name born in england in 1908 and there was a Horace James Lees born in Salop at that time.

A Horace J Lees died aged 58 in Fulham in 1965, he would be the right age but may or may not be the same person.

The photo on twitter is dated 1952/53 which would put him about 44-45 years old.

Re: Jim Lees

Postby donthittheblue

mick745 wrote:Hi yes.

Actually page 137 of John Kobylecky's book The Complete International Directory of snooker players gives his birth date as 8/9/08.

His name is given as H. Jim Lees. I checked the birth registry for anyone of that name born in england in 1908 and there was a Horace James Lees born in Salop at that time.

A Horace J Lees died aged 58 in Fulham in 1965, he would be the right age but may or may not be the same person.

The photo on twitter is dated 1952/53 which would put him about 44-45 years old.


Again thank you very much for clearing this one up....

Pretty much means - as we thought - Rex is the last surviving 'pre-modern' world championship player.

Re: Jim Lees

Postby SnookerEd25

This is a very interesting thread. I'm local to Fulham, so I may do a bit more digging - see if i can unearth anything further...

Re: Jim Lees

Postby donthittheblue

SnookerEd25 wrote:This is a very interesting thread. I'm local to Fulham, so I may do a bit more digging - see if i can unearth anything further...


The ancestry family tree record for the 1908 - 1965 Jim Lees lists the Jim Lees with the relevant date of birth and date of death as a billiard hall proprieter regards occupation; seems almost certain to be him.