RIP Willie Thorne

robfosters · 17 Jun 2020 at 09:39

Poor old Willies gone to the big snooker club in the sky aged 66 following respiratory failure.

bit of a Leicester legend was Willie, and was a throughly nice fella. Very good snooker player, but one of those serial losers that everyone loves, like Jimmy White. Shame the gambling got to him but he got past that. I believe he was a star in the music video of the classic 80’s number, Snooker Loopy.

Will miss him in the commentary box, much better than Taylor and Virgo at it.

was suffering from leukaemia and died in Spain following respiratory failure.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/53076861

el_dazza · 17 Jun 2020 at 10:27

Always came across as a nice bloke, will be a big loss to snooker

RIP

Pigeon_Killer · 17 Jun 2020 at 11:02

Bit too young to remember much of his playing days but always enjoyed him on Big Break and while he was commentating.

RIP Willie

cheesyboy · 17 Jun 2020 at 11:08

Yeah, I was sad to see this news this morning. Definitely one of my favourite commentators/pundits.

Pretty sure I saw him and another pro (might have been Jimmy) playing at Butlins when I was a nipper. It wasn't an exhibition match, they were just on the snooker table in the snooker hall with the rest of us (I was playing pool with my dad)

LoadsaMoney · 17 Jun 2020 at 14:13

Loved Willie.

R.I.P

Only watched him yesterday, on a repeat of the Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.

GGizmo · 17 Jun 2020 at 14:35

Very sad news.

I was old enough to see the back end of his playing days.

Mostly remember him on commentary, and I think he was on big break a few times.

RIP Willie.

Kelt · 17 Jun 2020 at 14:37

RIP Willie.

Only a year older than me.

Andrew_McP · 17 Jun 2020 at 14:42

Always seemed like a decent chap, and his voice was very calming in the commentary box. But I'm genuinely shocked to find he was only 66. I grew up in the Pot Black era and to find he was only 9 years older than me is a complete revelation!

jsmoke · 17 Jun 2020 at 14:45

I remember watching the snooker in early 90s. He was a plodder of a player. Good days.

Rip.

arc@css · 18 Jun 2020 at 10:42

I can't help but feel a sense of relief as things just didn't seem to go right for him, due to personal troubles over a number of his final years.

A very good player in his heyday, RIP 'Mr. Maximum'.