Draft:T.B. Leng
{{AfC submission|t||ts=20230607162826|u=BennyOnTheLoose|ns=118|demo=}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation =
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
Thomas Bradlaugh Leng, known as T.B. Leng, was a referee for the cue sports of snooker and English billiards. (plus owned club?)
Biography
(approx DOB)
llived on Balham High Road{{cite news |title=(untitled article) |newspaper=Sunday Pictorial |date=10 October 1937 |page=43}}
In tabloid newspaper The People, Leng claimed that he could drive a car, play cards, and read while blindfolded, as long as he was accompanied by someone to "aid the mental telepathy". The reported claimed that in a demonstrion, Leng had been able to repeat a phrase that the reported had written whilst Leng was blindfolded. Leng issued a challenge, saying that he believed there was nothing supernatural in any magician's act, and that he would bet £1,000 {{Inflation|UK|1000|1937|fmt=eq}} against anyone who claimed to be able to prove that "x-ray eyes" existed.{{cite news |title=Blindfolded this man can drive a car, read a paper; x-ray eyes all bunkum he says |newspaper=The People |date=24 October 1937 |page=11}}
During a match between Sydney Lee and Tom Newman at Charles Chambers became ill and was unable to continue; Lenf, who was in the audience, stepped in to referee the match.{{cite news |title=Sydney Lee takes snooker lead |newspaper= Daily News |location=London |date=5 January 1940 |page= }}
He refereed the 1946 World Snooker Championship final between Joe Davis and Horace Lindrum.{{cite magazine |title=News of the month: world's professional snooker championship |magazine=The Billiard Player |publisher=Billiards Association and Control Council |date=April 1946 |page=3}}
Beaufort Club London proprietor; ref 1947 final; "knows the rules backwards, forwards and in every trickster form that any player can put to him"; taught by Chambers; due to ill health, Leng looking to step back - Bruce Donkin his protoge{{cite magazine |title=Calling all referees |magazine=The Billiard Player |date=January 1948 |page=5}}
The London newspaper Truth called Leng "the game's senior referee"; resigned over a dispute about free balls{{cite news |title=Green grass and blue water |newspaper=Truth |date=27 February 1948 |page=12}}
When Horance Lindrum planned to come to England to play in WSC, he sent Leng a telegram asking him to arrange matches {{cite news |title=Snooker challenge |newspaper=Dundee Evening Telegraph |date=18 February 1949 |page=12}}
Leng placed announcement in billaird player Beaufot Leiceseter Sq "available for club engagements"{{cite magazine |title=(untitled) |magazine=The Billiard Player |date=March 1949 |page=7 }}
Leng spent about 15 years as a sailor from the age of 13;
he once broke 22 bones in a fall from the top of a ship and was hospitalised for 49 weeks, the first two while unconscious;
he flew and drove for leisure; and he ran his own snooker club, The Beaufort, in Lisle Street, London;{{cite magazine |title=T.B. Leng |magazine=The Billiard Player |publisher=Billiards Association and Control Council |date=June 1946 |pages=6-7}}
Club in Balham where Clark McConacy was resident professional.{{cite news |newspaper=Norwood News |date=1 October 1937 |page=3 }}
Snooker Scene Aug 1993 - Lowe article p/22
club official opening The Norwood News
19 Feb 1937, Fri ·Page 13
The Norwood News 01 Oct 1937, Fri · Page 3
The Norwood News 08 Oct 1937, Fri · Page 6
The People 24 Oct 1937, Sun · Page 11
Sunday Pictorial 10 Oct 1937, Sun · Page 43
The Norwood News 17 Dec 1937, Fri · Page 13
The Norwood News 31 Dec 1937, Fri · Page 5
Daily Herald. 25 Jan 1940, Thu · Page 10
Western Morning News 04 Feb 1947, Tue · Page 5
Dundee Courier - Wednesday 31 August 1949
LS Hall "Ts to be controlled by a panel of three: Miss Joyce Gardner, former woman billiards champion; Mr. T. B. Leng, a well-known referee; and Mr. Ted Lowe, who represents the man behind the whole scheme, Mr. Bob Jelks."Tattersall's Club Managzines,October 1947, Vol 20 No. 8
by Tattersall's Club, Sydney p17 "Some Thurstons History
BP Feb 47 - ref for all London WSC heats, fee to Char X
BP November 1947 - Leng refereed LS Hall opening night.
References
{{reflist}}