READER Tom Harrington recalls with fondness the late Joe Carr who was the founder of Carrs Pasties.

He is pictured standing directly behind the cup in this picture that last appeared in The Bolton Evening News in 2000, although was taken in the late 1940s.

The picture shows a cup being presented to Jim Redmond at St Mary’s Men’s Club in Clarence Street in Bolton for billiards success.

Tom explains: “Joe was a gifted billiards player in the era of Bert Hutchinson, Harry Eglon and Harry Whiteley as well as Jack Lever who all compiled century breaks regularly.”

Joe Carr is standing directly behind the cup in our picture and to the right of Joe, explains Tom, was an “exceptional player who won the Bolton Hospital Saturday Billiards’ competition and part of his prize was to take part in a half hour exhibition match at the Co-op Hall in Bridge Street with the world billiards champion Fred Davis.”

Harry apparently compiled a break of 265 and kept Fred sitting down for the full half hour.

Joe Carr and Harry both played in the Bury Fishpool Liberal Club invitation billiards tournament in 1955.

“I cadged a lift in the back of Joe’s Austin Seven van sitting holding their cues and I could smell the pasties that had been delivered that day,” recalls Tom, who was 17 at the time.

Unfortunately Joe was beaten in the semi-finals but Harry went on to win.

St Mary’s Men’s Club had four snooker tables and boys from St Mary’s School in Bridge Street could join at 14 years old, explains Tom.

“Anyone showing promise would get training from senior members and this policy produced plenty of inter league standard players.

“The cost of boy’s membership in today’s money was five pence per year and to play on the tables was two pence per hour for two players. Sadly the club closed and the building was demolished.”