Attic Life to sponsor two Cuestars events

A LOFT conversion firm has drawn up plans to give the region’s young snooker players a leg-up.

Attic Life has stepped in to sponsor two legs of next season’s Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold, Silver and Bronze Tours at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Owner Neil Herd has been involved with Cuestars for 25 years, originally coaching juniors in Newbury and Basingstoke, and still competes on the Seniors (40+) and Championship Tours.

But the 44-year-old was forced to pull out of this season’s South Wilts League after breaking his collarbone in four places while snowboarding in Austria.

“It’s good to see the youngsters coming through and seeing how much they improve,” said Herd. “But I can’t believe it’s 25 years!”

He started playing snooker aged 13 and became a well-known figure on the Pro-Am circuit. His biggest claim to fame was beating six-time World Championship finalist Jimmy White twice in exhibition at the Anvil Theatre, Basingstoke, in the early 1990s.

“My dad would drive me to Birmingham, Leeds and all over London and Essex when snooker clubs were smoky dens of iniquity with characters and a pulse,” he recalled. “It’s why I fell in love with the game.”

Established 13 years ago, the multi-award winning Attic Life operates in a 50-mile radius of Bath and converts about 40 lofts a year. For more information, go to www.atticlife.co.uk.

Report by Tim Dunkley