That glint in his eye had never left him. As he shook my hand, there it was again, a look which radiated charm, mischief and a warm sense of humanity.
On August 1, 2023, I went down to Churston Golf Club in Devon to interview Ray Reardon for a book which will be out later this year. To say he was generous with his time is a serious understatement. It was a beautiful day. The sun shone and the memories flowed.
I wanted to tell the story of that day in memory of Ray, who sadly passed away last year, as we head to the Crucible where he completed a sixth World Championship triumph in 1978. First, some background.
To understand Ray Reardon, you have to appreciate where he came from. Born in Tredegar in South Wales between the wars, his life’s path was mapped out for him. The menfolk worked at the mine, the beating heart of the local economy. Reardon played snooker socially, building a reputation in the area, but the professional game in the 1950s was all but dead and he had to earn a living.
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