Jim Hornibrook 1944 - 2003.

A tribute from Chris Saville.

I first new Jim Hornibrook in the late sixties. I was a sprog bar billiards player going through my early seasons in the old Deal league. Mike Callanan and I used to go over to the Nags Head in Canterbury to watch the 'Gods' of the green baize ply their trade in the then mighty Canterbury League. There were none better and none more welcoming than Jim Hornibrook, that sums him up!! Jim won the Canterbury Open Singles on more than one occasion and was a part of the all conquering Canterbury Interleague side that lifted the trophy on three successive years. He was also a top class footballer and cricketer representing his local area in both sports. One thing you knew if you were up against Jim was that you were in for a battle, but a battle fought to the fairest of standards and a hand shake after.

It was a cruel twist of fate that saw Jim develop Emphysema in the early seventies, and a gradual deterioration in his health until 1987 - 88 when I saw a man that I thought was at death's door sitting with an oxygen cylinder at the Canterbury presentation night. That showed how determined he was to overcome his illness. Medical science came to his aid with a lung transplant in 1989. This brought a radical improvement in his health, but saw the start of a long battle to keep it. During the following years Jim met the challenge where many would have given up. He raised thousands of pounds for Harefield and The Kent And Canterbury Hospitals and threw his efforts into local community life.

Jim wrote columns for Bar Billiards and other sports in the Kent Gazette, and he continued to play bar billiards until the demise of the Canterbury League in 1997. He was a good golfer winning the Sunshine Masters National Title in Portugal in 1995, and forced to do it without the aid of a buggy in the last round. He also became heavily involved in local village life in Chartham, where he was born, as a Parish Councillor and Chairman of the local sports club.. He was tireless and thoroughly committed in everything he did.

Latterly he made the odd guest appearance in our league for Stan Brocklebank's team and was a regular visitor to our Presentation evenings. So when you start your matches next week spare a thought for a remarkably gifted man who fought and won a frustrating battle over ill health for nearly thirty years. He was a fine a player and as nice a gentleman as I have had the privilege and pleasure to meet.

God Bless you Jim!