Vera Selby

{{short description|English snooker and billiards player (1930–2023)}}

{{Infobox snooker player

| name = Vera Selby

| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}

| image = File:Vera Selby.png

| caption = Vera Selby

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|3|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Richmond, North Yorkshire, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|3|13|1930|3|13|df=y}}

| death_place =

| Sport country = England

| Professional =

| High ranking =

| Official maximums =

| Best finish =

| medals-expand =

| medals =

}}

Vera Selby {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} ({{née|Danby}}; 13 March 1930 – 13 March 2023) was an English snooker and billiards player who won multiple women's world titles in both sports. She won the inaugural World Women's Snooker Championship in 1976 and won the title for a second time in 1981; she also won eight World Women's Billiards Championships from 1970 to 1978. A commentator for the BBC's televised snooker coverage, most notably at the 1982 World Snooker Championship, she was also a qualified referee and coach.

Remembered as a pioneering figure in women's cue sports, Selby received an MBE in the 2015 Birthday Honours for her services to snooker and billiards.

Career

Selby was introduced to billiards as a six-year-old, as her uncle had a table in the cellar of his home in Newcastle. When she was 36, former British amateur billiards and snooker champion Alf Nolan saw her playing with her husband at the Coxlodge Club in Newcastle and started coaching her.{{cite news |last=Amos |first=Mike |date=6 July 2004 |title=Cueing up to listen to first lady of snooker |work=Durham County Publications (England) |via=NewsBank }}{{Cite web |title=Pocket dynamo |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/latest/8120058.pocket-dynamo/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=The Northern Echo |language=en |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315124724/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/latest/8120058.pocket-dynamo/ |url-status=live }} She won eight World Women's Billiards Championships from 1970 to 1978.

In 1976, she became the inaugural winner of the World Women's Snooker Championship, claiming the title by beating Muriel Hazeldine 4–0 in the final.[https://www.womenssnooker.com/about/history/ History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424130121/https://www.womenssnooker.com/about/history/ |date=24 April 2019 }} Women's World Snooker. Retrieved 21 July 2019. She won her second women's world snooker title in 1981 by defeating Mandy Fisher 3–0 in the final.[https://www.womenssnooker.com/about/world-champions/ World Champions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818024929/https://www.womenssnooker.com/about/world-champions/ |date=18 August 2019 }} Women's World Snooker. Retrieved 21 July 2019. At 51, her success made her the oldest female world champion in any sport.

A commentator for televised snooker, she was part of the BBC commentary team for the 1982 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, at which Alex Higgins won his second world title.{{Cite web |date=14 March 2023 |title=Vera Selby MBE Passes Away |url=https://www.womenssnooker.com/vera-selby-mbe-passes-away/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=World Women's Snooker |language=en-GB |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314211216/https://www.womenssnooker.com/vera-selby-mbe-passes-away/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title='Pioneer of women's snooker' Selby dies |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/64962256 |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315225404/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/64962256 |url-status=live }} She was a qualified referee and coach, and chaired the North East Billiards and Snooker Association. In 1987 she became the first woman to be appointed by the Billiards and Snooker Control Council as an examiner for referees.{{cite news |title=Lady Examiner |newspaper=The Times |date=29 January 1987 |page=40}} She won a lifetime achievement award for her services to billiards in 2014.

In the 2015 Birthday Honours, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "for services to Snooker and Billiards."United Kingdom: {{London Gazette |issue=61256 | date=12 June 2015 |pages=B24| supp=y}} She received her MBE from Prince Charles (now Charles III) at Buckingham Palace. At age 85, she was still playing cue sports regularly.{{cite news |last=Ough |first=Tom |date=13 February 2016 |title=85-year-old snooker champion Vera Selby reveals longevity secret as she earns MBE |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/85-year-old-snooker-champion-10873952 |work=ChronicleLive |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720232803/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/85-year-old-snooker-champion-10873952 |archive-date=20 July 2019}}

Personal life

Vera Danby{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Chris |date=28 July 2017 |title=In recent weeks in this space, we've become fascinated by the distinctive red brick building on the corner of Finkle Street |url=https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/lookingback/15440829.in-recent-weeks-in-this-space-weve-become-fascinated-by-the-distinctive-red-brick-building-on-the-corner-of-finkle-street/ |access-date=16 March 2023 |website=Darlington and Stockton Times |language=en |archive-date=21 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421183553/https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/lookingback/15440829.in-recent-weeks-in-this-space-weve-become-fascinated-by-the-distinctive-red-brick-building-on-the-corner-of-finkle-street/ |url-status=live }} was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire, where her father was manager of the Freeman, Hardy and Willis shop. She studied art and design at Leeds University.[https://sigbi.org/richmond-and-dales/past-events-archive/meetings-2012/ Meetings Archive 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720232806/https://sigbi.org/richmond-and-dales/past-events-archive/meetings-2012/ |date=20 July 2019 }} Soroptomist International. Retrieved 21 July 2019. In her mid-20s, she met Bruce Selby, a hairdresser from Newcastle, who was 28 years her senior. They married two years later.

She worked as a senior art, textile, and dress designer lecturer at the former Newcastle Polytechnic from 1972 until 1983, when she took early retirement aged 53.{{cite web |title=New exhibition honours the life of a North East icon |website=Northumbria University |date=18 April 2024 |url=https://newsroom.northumbria.ac.uk/pressreleases/new-exhibition-honours-the-life-of-a-north-east-icon-3317500 |access-date=21 April 2024 |archive-date=21 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421022621/https://newsroom.northumbria.ac.uk/pressreleases/new-exhibition-honours-the-life-of-a-north-east-icon-3317500 |url-status=live }}

In 2009, she became the Master of the 400-year-old Fellmongers' Guild in Richmond, the first female Master in its history.{{cite news |last=Amos |first=Mike |date=27 November 2014 |title=Green Party |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/columnists/mikeamos/backtrack/11630285.green-party/ |work=Northern Echo |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720232809/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/columnists/mikeamos/backtrack/11630285.green-party/ |archive-date=20 July 2019}}

Selby died on 13 March 2023, her 93rd birthday. Professional player Shaun Murphy paid tribute, calling her "one of the pioneers of women's snooker and an early trailblazer for girls and women who followed".{{cite news |title=Vera Selby MBE Passes Away |url=https://wst.tv/vera-selby-mbe-passes-away/ |access-date=14 March 2023 |publisher=WST |date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314212416/https://wst.tv/vera-selby-mbe-passes-away/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Shaun Murphy leads Vera Selby tributes after death of first women's world champion – 'A pioneer of women's snooker' |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/shaun-murphy-leads-vera-selby-tributes-after-death-of-first-women-s-world-champion-a-pioneer-of-wome_sto9509592/story.shtml |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=eurosport.com |archive-date=21 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421183418/https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/shaun-murphy-leads-vera-selby-tributes-after-death-of-first-women-s-world-champion-a-pioneer-of-wome_sto9509592/story.shtml |url-status=live }} An exhibition celebrating her career was held at Northumbria University in April 2023.{{cite news |title=Exhibition celebrates women's cue sports pioneer |date=20 April 2024 |website=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd18xegkm6po |access-date=21 April 2024 |archive-date=21 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421022618/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd18xegkm6po |url-status=live }}

Titles and achievements

class="wikitable sortable" \|+Individual Snooker finals contested by Vera Selby !scope=col\|Outcome !scope=col\|No. !scope=col\|Year !scope=col\|Championship !scope=col\|Opponent !scope=col\|Score !scope="col" class=unsortable\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 1 \|\| 1972 \|\| National Women's Snooker Championship \|\| Rae Craven \|\| 4-0 \|\|{{cite magazine \|title=New first lady \|magazine=Snooker Scene \|date=June 1972 \|page=5 }}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 2 \|\| 1973 \|\| National Women's Snooker Championship \|\| Kay Goodwin \|\| 4-1 \|\|{{cite magazine \|title=First lady again \|magazine=Snooker Scene \|date=June 1973 \|page=13 }}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 3 \|\| 1974 \|\| National Women's Snooker Championship \|\| Muriel Hazeldene \|\| 4-1 \|\|{{cite magazine \|title=First lady again \|magazine=Snooker Scene \|date=July 1974 \|page=21 }}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 4 \|\| 1975 \|\| National Women's Snooker Championship \|\| Ann Johnson \|\| 4-2 \|\|{{cite magazine \|title=Vera Selby retains women's championship \|magazine=Snooker Scene \|date=July 1975 \|page=11 }}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 5 \|\| 1976 \|\| Women's World Open Championship \|\| Muriel Hazeldene \|\| 4–0 \|\|{{cite book \|last=Everton \|first=Clive \|date=1985 \|title=Guinness Snooker: The Records \|location=Enfield \|publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd \|page=154 \|isbn=0851124488 }}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 6 \|\| 1979 \|\| National Women's Snooker Championship \|\| Ann Johnson \|\| 3-1 \|\|{{cite magazine \|title=Vera Selby regains women's snooker title \|magazine=Snooker Scene \|date=June 1979\|page=28 }}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 7 \|\| 1981 \|\| Women's World Open Championship \|\| Mandy Fisher \|\| 3–0 \|\|

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Individual Snooker finals contested by Vera Selby

!scope=col|Outcome

!scope=col|No.

!scope=col|Year

!scope=col|Championship

!scope=col|Opponent

!scope=col|Score

!scope="col" class=unsortable|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 1 || 1972 || National Women's Snooker Championship || Rae Craven || 4-0 ||{{cite magazine |title=New first lady |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=June 1972 |page=5 }}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 2 || 1973 || National Women's Snooker Championship || Kay Goodwin || 4-1 ||{{cite magazine |title=First lady again |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=June 1973 |page=13 }}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 3 || 1974 || National Women's Snooker Championship || Muriel Hazeldene || 4-1 ||{{cite magazine |title=First lady again |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=July 1974 |page=21 }}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 4 || 1975 || National Women's Snooker Championship || Ann Johnson || 4-2 ||{{cite magazine |title=Vera Selby retains women's championship |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=July 1975 |page=11 }}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 5 || 1976 || Women's World Open Championship || Muriel Hazeldene || 4–0 ||{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1985 |title=Guinness Snooker: The Records |location=Enfield |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |page=154 |isbn=0851124488 }}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 6 || 1979 || National Women's Snooker Championship || Ann Johnson || 3-1 ||{{cite magazine |title=Vera Selby regains women's snooker title |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=June 1979|page=28 }}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 7 || 1981 || Women's World Open Championship || Mandy Fisher || 3–0 ||

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Team Snooker final contested by Vera Selby

!scope=col|Outcome

!scope=col|Year

!scope=col|Championship

!scope=col|Team/partner

!scope=col|Opponent(s) in the final

!scope="col" class=unsortable|Score

!scope="col" class=unsortable|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

| 1981

| World Mixed Doubles Championship

| {{flagathlete|John Virgo|ENG}}

| {{flagathlete|Cliff Thorburn|CAN}}
{{flagathlete|Natalie Stelmach|CAN}}

| align="center"|239–269{{efn|Aggregate points across four frames{{cite news |author= |title=Canadians win snooker title |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Montreal |date=9 May 1981 |page=34}}}}

class="wikitable" \|+Individual English Billiards finals contested by Vera Selby !scope=col\|Outcome !scope=col\|No. !scope=col\|Year !scope=col\|Championship !scope=col\|Opponent !scope=col\|Score !scope="col" class=unsortable\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 1 \|\| 1970 \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship \|\| \|\| \|\|{{cite news \|date=12 March 2001 \|title=Birthdays – Court & Social \|work=The Times \|page=24}}{{cite web \|url=https://world-billiards.com/?p=9757 \|title=World Ladies Billiards Champions \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119044809/http://world-billiards.com/?p=9757 \|date=22 June 2015 \|archive-date=19 January 2018 \|website=World Billiards }}
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 2 \|\| 1971 \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship \|\| Rae Craven \|\| 506–304 \|\|
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 3 \|\| 1972 \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship \|\| Rae Craven \|\| 736–354 \|\|
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 4 \|\| 1973 \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship\|\| Rae Craven \|\| walkover \|\|
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 5 \|\| 1974 \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship \|\| Thea Hindmarch \|\| \|\|
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 6 \|\| 1976{{efn\|There was no contest in 1975}} \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship\|\| Rae Craven \|\| 407–157 \|\|
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 7 \|\| 1977 \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship \|\| \|\| \|\|
scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"\| Winner \|\| 8 \|\| 1978 \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship \|\| Maureen Baynton \|\| 366–319 \|\|
scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"\|Runner-up \|\| 9 \|\| 1979 \|\| Women's Amateur Billiards Championship\|\| Maureen Baynton \|\| \|\|

class="wikitable"

|+Individual English Billiards finals contested by Vera Selby

!scope=col|Outcome

!scope=col|No.

!scope=col|Year

!scope=col|Championship

!scope=col|Opponent

!scope=col|Score

!scope="col" class=unsortable|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 1 || 1970 || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship || || ||{{cite news |date=12 March 2001 |title=Birthdays – Court & Social |work=The Times |page=24}}{{cite web |url=https://world-billiards.com/?p=9757 |title=World Ladies Billiards Champions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119044809/http://world-billiards.com/?p=9757 |date=22 June 2015 |archive-date=19 January 2018 |website=World Billiards }}

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 2 || 1971 || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship || Rae Craven || 506–304 ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 3 || 1972 || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship || Rae Craven || 736–354 ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 4 || 1973 || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship|| Rae Craven || walkover ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 5 || 1974 || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship || Thea Hindmarch || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 6 || 1976{{efn|There was no contest in 1975}} || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship|| Rae Craven || 407–157 ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 7 || 1977 || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship || || ||

scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"| Winner

|| 8 || 1978 || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship || Maureen Baynton || 366–319 ||

scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up

|| 9 || 1979 || Women's Amateur Billiards Championship|| Maureen Baynton || ||

Notes

References

External links

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FZAQg5PERE Reanne Evans and Vera Selby on Ladies Day (2016)] YouTube video.

Category:1930 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:English snooker players

Category:Female snooker players

Category:English players of English billiards

Category:Female players of English billiards

Category:Sportspeople from Richmond, North Yorkshire

Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds

Category:Academics of Northumbria University

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire