Mr Jack Cable.

Mr John (Jack) Cable.
Mr John Cable, known as Jack, was born on the 24th of September 1886 at Abertillery, the son of William and Martha Cable of 1 Penybont Road, Cwmtillery. In this story I will refer to him as Jack. Two of his uncles (his father’s brothers) George and Silas Cable were sadly killed in the 1876 Cwmtillery Pit Explosion. Jack Cable later worked in one of the local collieries. 

Mr Cable’s Career.
Mr Jack Cable was a coalminer and also an accomplished billiard player. He played for the billiard team at the Powell’s Tillery Institute at Division Street and in 1905 he became a member of the Liberal and Labour Club, the Lib, Abertillery as member number 161.

Marriage.
On 5th of November 1906, Mr Jack Cable married Miss Candy May Staples, of Carmel Street, born in 1890, daughter of James and Truth Staples. Jack and Candy May lived at 134 Alma Street, Abertillery. The Staples family later lived nearby at 126 Alma Street, Abertillery.

The R. J. Ayers Cup.
In 1907 Mr Jack Cable won the billiard competition at the Liberal Club, Abertillery and was awarded the R. J. Ayers Cup, a trophy given by Mr Ayers in May 1904 for the billiard competition held annually at the club. Mr R. J. Ayers was a founding member of the club and was a painter and decorator trading from Church Street, Abertillery.

The Western Valley’s Billiard League.
In February 1909 inter-league tournaments to be played between teams representing the Western Valley’s and the Easter Valley’s were arranged, Jack Cable was chosen to play representing the Western Valley’s League.

In May 1909 Mr Jack Cable was chosen to represent a team from the Western Valley’s Billiards League to play a team from Newport representing the Newport Billiards League. The first leg was played at Blaina, the Western Valley’s team won 2,298 to 1,684. The return match was played at the Old Boy’s Institute, Stow Hill, Newport, where the Western Valley’s team also won the leg with a score 1,526 to 1,456. The Western Valley’s team also featured Mr Samuel Parr of the Liberal Club, Abertillery.

Between 1907 and 1916, Mr Cable dominated the billiard leagues while being a member of the Liberal Club, Abertillery and became captain of the first team.

The Liberal Club.
On Wednesday 1st of June 1910, Jack Cable won the Liberal and Labour Club handicap, the prize was a gramophone given by Mr R. J. Ayers and presented by Mr A. Frowen. The runner up in the competition was Mr Griffiths Jones.

The Welsh Amateur Championships 1914.
On Friday 6th of February 1914, the South Wales Gazette reported on the current Welsh Amateur Championship contest being held at the Butchers Arms Hotel, Pontypridd. The report stated that Mr Jack Cable of Abertillery met Dr Macdonald of Pontypridd in the second round. Jack Cable won with a score of 1,000 to 301. In the ninth heat held on the Wednesday, Mr Cable played the experienced Mr A. Paton of Swansea.

Mr Cable narrowly lost the game by a score of 1,000 to 967. It was stated that in the competition the players had to play with ivory balls as opposed to composite balls, quite a few players were said to have struggled, it was said that Mr Paton had considerable experience with ivory balls whereas Mr Jack Cable had only a few days practice playing with ivory sets. Incidentally, Mr Andrew Paton went on to win the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship 1914 by beating Mr W. Edgar Thomas in the final, Mr W. E. Thomas was also of Abertillery with a score 1,001 to 865.

Billiard Champion Shield and Exhibition Match.
On 24th of April 1914, the South Wales Gazette reported that Mr Medhurst, chairman of the Welsh Billiards Association, and Mr Edgar Thomas, ex-Welsh Amateur Billiards Champion, visited Abertillery to present the inter club Challenge Shield, recently won by the Abertillery Liberal Club. Mr Medhurst merited the team’s performance as only one game out of 24 was lost and the Association held the team in high regard and felt that a Welsh Amateur champion would be found among the members of the club. Mr Medhurst handed the trophy to Mr J. Cable, and presented silver match-boxes as souvenirs to Messrs J. Cable, T. Meyrick, A. Harries, E. Williams, H. Coles, W. Williams, and F. Drake.

Prior to the presentation, Mr Thomas and Mr Cable, captain of the Liberal Club, played an exhibition match of 500 up, which Mr Thomas won by 61 points.

The Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship 1915.
On Saturday and Monday 6th and 8th of February 1915, Mr Jack Cable won the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship at Great Western Railway Hotel, Cardiff. Mr Cable played Mr C. C. Crocker of Cardiff in a contest 2,000 up. The final was four sessions of billiards held over two days. Mr Jack Cable won the contest with a score 2,003 to 2,000, he was awarded a silver cup presented by the Welsh Amateur Billiards Association handed to him by Mr A. F. Hill, the old Welsh Rugby forward.

The United Kingdom Amateur Championship 1915.
On Monday 22nd of February 1915, Jack Cable was runner up in the United Kingdom Amateur Championship held in London. Mr Jack Cable beat Mr J. Nugent the champion of Ireland in the semi-final although lost out to Mr A. W. T. Good in the final 2,716 to 3,000. Mr Good had beaten Mr A. Croneen the champion of Scotland in his semi-final.

The Great War Years.
During the great war Jack Cable joined the forces (as seen in the image right) and was a driver in the Royal Engineers 123rd Company. He later became a reservist. Photographs kindly supplied courtesy of Clive Beard.

Mr Cable’s Move to Oakdale.
Mr Jack Cable moved to Oakdale sometime between 1918 and 1921 and became a member of the Oakdale Institute billiard team competing in the Western Valleys League along with the Abertillery Liberal Club, his old team mates.

The Lymes Club Billiards Team.
After Mr Cable moved to Oakdale he also became a member of the Lymes Club billiard team at Abertillery. In April 1921 he and fellow other Liberal Team members Mr Sam Parr and Mr Bert Singer beat the North Leeds Club in the Affiliated Clubs Championship at Broad Street, Birmingham. The win qualified them for the final of the championships. The Lymes Club went on to win the competition and was awarded the shield valued at 100 guineas.

The Exhibition Match at the Ex-Servicemen’s Institute Abertillery.
On Thursday 13th of November 1919 an exhibition match was held at the Ex-Servicemen’s Institute at King Street, Abertillery on the occasion of the opening of the billiard room. A match was held between Mr Jack Cable, the Welsh champion and Mr S. Parr both of the Liberal Club, Abertillery. Mr Jack Cable won 509 to 443 points. It was stated that it was a hard fought game with Jack Cable making breaks of 58, 45 and 36, Mr Parr made breaks of 51, 33, 32 and 30. The marker was Mr Edgar Williams also of the Liberal Club.

The Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship 1920.
On Thursday 31st of March 1920, Mr Jack Cable retained his title when he beat Mr W. Stuckey of Cardiff at the final of the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship held at the Grand Hotel, Cardiff. Mr Cables’ breaks were recorded as being 93, 74 and 73.

The Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship 1921.
On Saturday 19th of March 1921, Mr Jack Cable retained his title when he beat Mr J. Scadding of Pentre in the final of the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship. Mr Cable won the contest with a score of 2,000 to 1,855.

The Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship 1922.
On Friday and Saturday 10th and 11th of March 1922, the final of the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship took place at the Burroughes and Watts, Saloon at Cardiff. Mr Jack Cable of Abertillery played Mr S. Edwards of Cardiff. By the end of play on Friday Mr Cable had gone out in front with the score of 1,501 to 1,020. On Saturday Mr Jack Cable made breaks of 73, 55, 53 (twice) 40, 36 and 32 (twice) and won by 722 points. The final score was – 2,000 to 1,278. Mr Stephen Medhurst the chairman of the Welsh Billiards Association officially handed over the silver cup to Mr Cable and congratulated him on retaining his title.

The Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship 1923.
In February 1923 the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship was taking place at Cardiff. Four Abertillery Liberal Club members were through to the last stages of the tournament, Mr Sam Parr, Mr Edgar Thomas, Mr Horace Coles and Mr Jack Cable. Mr Parr beat Mr E. Thomas and had to play Mr Coles in the semi-final where he beat Mr Coles to play the champion Mr Cable in the final. Mr Cable won the contest and regained his title with a score of 2,000 to 1,663. It was stated that both finalists were members of the Liberal Club, Abertillery and Mr Jack Cable had held the championship for nine years since 1915, though it was not contested during the Great War.

The Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship 1924.
On Tuesday and Wednesday 25th and 26th of March 1924, the final of the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship took place at Billiard Hall, Castle Street, Cardiff. Mr Jack Cable of Oakdale, formally of Abertillery played Mr Horace Coles of Cardiff, also formally of Abertillery. Both players were former members of the Liberal Club, Abertillery. Mr Horace Coles won the title with the score 2,000 to 933. Mr Coles made breaks of 104, 100, 96, 63 and 60. Mr Cable made breaks of 50, 44 and 40. This contest ended Mr Cables run of nine titles of champion of the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship 1915-1923.

His Removal to Kent.
Mr Jack Cable moved to Kent, he worked as a miner in the Snowdown Colliery at Aylesham, Kent.

Mr Cable’s Achievements in South East England.
The Kent County Amateur Billiard Championship 1929.
On Friday 15th of March 1929, at the Metropole Hotel, Kent, Mr Jack Cable formerly of Abertillery, now of Aylesham, won the Kent County Amateur Billiard Championship beating Mr E. J. Kelly of Ashford of a score 1,000 to 638. The Mayor presented Mr Cable with the challenge cup and replica and a champion cue and case was presented by Messrs Burroughes and Watts. In a second round heat of the competition, Mr Cable managed a break of 134 – the highest ever scored in championship matches in Dover, defeating Mr A. F. Lock, the runner-up in the 1928 final, progressing Mr Cable to the semi-finals.

The Dover Amateur Billiard Championship 1929.
On Thursday 21st of March 1929, Mr Cable was in the final for the Dover Amateur Billiard Championship against Mr A. Sands. The championship was held at the Metropole Hotel, Kent. Mr Jack Cable won the match and took the winners silver cup. For the highest break Mr Cable was awarded a gold medal. In the first round, Mr Cable with a score of 500-324 comfortably defeated Mr W. Braddock (of Dover), who was the first Kent Amateur Billiards Champion in 1928. That match was described as ‘a treat to watch, and an object lesson in accuracy. A feature of his (Cable’s) great display was the sound judgement in strength of striking and resulting in position for the next stroke.’ ’No fewer than three times he scored from a double baulk left by Mr Braddock.’

The Dover Snooker Championship 1929.
On Monday 25th of March 1929, Mr Jack Cable lost in the semi-final of the Dover Snooker Championship. Mr Cable lost to Mr A. Sands.

The British Legion Club (South Eastern) County Championship 1929.
On Saturday 30th of March 1929, the Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph newspaper reported that Aylesham and Folkstone had recently competed in a billiards competition. Mr J. Cable of Aylesham beat Mr Pettitt of Folkstone, Mr Cable was declared county champion.

An Exhibition Match at Dover.
On Friday 26th of April 1929, Jack Cable played an exhibition match of billiards 1,000 up against Mr S. Button at the Metropole Hotel, Dover, Kent. The match commenced at 6.pm was ended early as Mr Cable had to catch a train home, although the scores at the conclusion of the match were – Mr Cable 950, Mr Button 786. It stated that Mr Cable had made breaks of 103, 81, 63 and 61.

The Letter Sent to the Liberal Club Abertillery.
On Friday 7th of June 1929, the South Wales Gazette printed the contents of a letter sent from Mr Jack Cable of Aylesham, that he had sent to the Liberal Club, Abertillery. The letter was received by Mr Harry Jones of the club, in it Mr Cable states “I am pleased to be able to say I won all the billiard championships I entered for – The Kent Amateur Championships, the Dover Amateur Championship, the East Kent section of the British Legion and a medal for the highest break in the Dover Amateur Championship of 134”. He went on to say “Our team – Aylesham, won the British Legion Shield and gold medals”. “I should have gone to the finals in London but through a misunderstanding my name was left out”. “So you will see, I’m keeping up the status of the Club, the (Central Club, Abertillery), for which I give all the credit due to the encouragement you gave me while there with you”. He expressed the hope that the Central Club would soon be able to fill the places of himself and Mr Horace Coles, the British Amateur Billiards Champion and former Welsh Amateur Champion who represented England in the Empire Championships recently in South Africa.

The British Legion Billiards Championship (Eastern Area).
On Thursday 22nd of August 1929, Jack Cable won the Billiards Championship (Eastern Area) of the British Legion at the Fulham Club, London. In the semi-final Jack Cable played Mr A. G. Mitchell of Surrey, beating him 500 to 201. In the final he beat Mr W. Flowers of Berkshire beating him 500 to 150. During play Mr Cable made breaks of 157 and 68 with six breaks of over 40. It was reported that his break of 157 was the largest made in that district during the past twelve-months. During that same year it was stated that Mr Jack Cable had gained a medal in the league for the largest break with 132, had won three cups, two gold medals, two shields and a billiard cue and case.

The Dover Amateur Billiard Championship 1930.
On Thursday 20th and Friday 21st of February 1930, Mr Jack Cable won the Dover Amateur Billiard Championship played at Dover. Mr Cable beat Mr S. Rayner in the final with a score of 1,000 to 692. Mr Whorwell presented the prizes and handed to Mr Cable the silver cup presented by the President Major Astor and also a gold medal presented by the Composition Ball Supply Company of London for the highest break of 81.

The Dover Amateur Snooker Championship 1930.
On Friday 7th of March 1930, Mr Jack Cable lost to Mr H. T. Fry the final of the Dover Amateur Snooker Championship. The first prize was a silver cup and the runner-up received a marble clock set.

The Kent Conservative Clubs’ Billiards Championship 1930.
In April of 1930, Mr Cable took part in a Dover club billiards team that became the East Kent Champions after defeating the Ramsgate club. On Friday, 25th of April and Wednesday, 30th of April the final for the Kent Championship shield was contested between the East Kent champions, the Carlton Club, Dover, and the West Kent champions, the Tonbridge Constitutional Club. In the first half, played at Tonbridge, Mr Cable won his game 234-250 against Mr H. G. Terry, the Tonbridge Billiards Champion, but lost his second half game, played in Dover, to Mr Terry 232-250. Tonbridge won the shield with an aggregate score of 1448-1302.

The Kent County Amateur Billiards Championship 1931.
On Tuesday 10th of March 1931, Jack Cable lost to Mr C. Cox of Gravesend in the final of the Kent County Amateur Billiards Championship. Mr Cable led at the half-way stage 550-443, and Mr Cox only took the lead for the first time at 924-921. The final score was Mr Cox’s 1,000 to Mr Cable’s 939.

The Dover Amateur Billiard Championship 1931.
On Friday 20th and Saturday 21st of March 1931, Jack Cable won the the Dover Amateur Billiard Championship, he beat Mr W. Braddock in the final Jack Cable recorded the highest break of 116. The score was 1,000 to 633.

The Dover Amateur Snooker Championship 1931.
On Thursday 2nd of April 1931, Mr Jack Cable won the Dover Amateur Snooker Championship, he beat Mr H. N. Norton in the final.

The Kent Conservative Clubs’ Billiards Championship 1931.
On Wednesday 27th of May 1931, the Tonbridge Constitutional Club retained the championship shield by beating Dover’s Carlton Club at Tonbridge. Tonbridge led by only 12 after the Dover games in the first half session, but Mr H. G. Terry playing for Tonbridge put the issue practically beyond doubt in the second half of the contest after a win of 250 to 85 over Mr Cable, who could not find his form and get going,

On Friday 9th of January 1932, the Dover Express and East Kent News reports that Mr J. Cable played for the Snowdown team in Division 1 of the Dover and District Billiards League, which defeated the ‘Red Cow’ team of Dover by 125 points on 5th December 1931. Mr Cable won his game 150 to 83 beating Mr J. F. Edwards, the Hon. Secretary of the Dover club.

The Kent County Amateur Billiards Championship 1932.
On Monday 11th of March 1932, at the ‘Red Cow’ Hotel, Dover, Jack Cable won the Kent County Amateur Billiards Championship for the second time beating the holder, Mr C. Cox of Gravesend, who was attempting to win the challenge cup for a third time and take ownership of it. Mr Cable, however, was a comfortable winner. The final score was 1,000 to 707, the highest break of the contest going to Mr Cable (68).

The Dover Amateur Billiard Championship 1932.
On Wednesday 13th of April 1932, Mr Jack Cable won the Dover Amateur Billiard Championship by beating Mr W. Banks in the final with the score 1,000 to 788. Mr Cable received the silver cup and plinth, and was presented with a gold medal for the highest break of the contest (79).

The Dover Amateur Snooker Championship 1932.
On Tuesday 5th of April 1932, Mr Jack Cable came third in the Dover Amateur Snooker Championship by beating Mr J. Ryelands 177 to 77 in the play offs.

The Kent County Amateur Billiards Championship 1933.
On Tuesday 7th of March 1933, Mr Jack Cable won the Kent County Amateur Billiards Championship. Mr Cable beat Mr C. Cox of Gravesend. Score 1,000 to 721. The winner Mr Cable had won the Kent County Amateur Billiards Championship three times and took the cup valued at 17 guineas, which was presented by the Dover Billiards Association in 1928. The runner-up Mr Cox received a gold medal, cue and case.

The Dover Amateur Billiard Championship 1933.
On Wednesday 22nd of March 1933, Mr Jack Cable won the Dover Amateur Billiard Championship. Mr Cable beat Mr W. Banks in the final with a score of 1,000 to 485. Mr Cable held a break of 135.

The Dover Amateur Snooker Championship 1933.
On Friday 24th of March 1933 Mr Jack Cable lost in the final of the Dover Amateur Snooker Championship. He was beaten by Mr J. G. Spicer. Four games of snooker was played with Mr Spicer scoring 180 to Mr Cable’s 163.

The Dover and District Billiards League 1934.
On 11th of May 1934, the Dover Express and East Kent News reported on the Dover Amateur Billiards Association’s presentation of prizes: Winners of Division 1: Aylesham British Legion (captain, Mr J. Cable) (shield and five gold and silver enamelled medals).

The Dover Amateur Billiard Championship 1935.
On Wednesday 8th of May 1935, Mr Jack Cable won the Dover Amateur Billiard Championship. Mr Cable beat Mr S. Bowhill with the score 1,000 to 675. The final was held at the Townwall Club.

The Dover Amateur Snooker Championship 1935.
On Tuesday 14th May 1935, Mr Jack Cable won the Dover Amateur Snooker Championship. He defeated Mr Barraclough of the Townwall Club in the final.

The Death of Mrs Cable.
On Saturday 18th of April 1936, Mrs Candy May Cable sadly passed away. Her obituary in the South Wales Gazette stated that while Mrs Cable lived in Abertillery she was a member of the Brynteg Congregational Church, of which her mother, who had died in 1931, was one of the founders.

Mr Jack Cable and Mr Joe Davis.
On Friday 17th of February 1939, the Dover Express newspaper reported on a visit to Aylesham by the world snooker champion Mr Joe Davis and on the previous Tuesday 14th February Mr Joe Davis played a series of billiard and snooker games with Mr Jack Cable.

Mr Jack Cable Remarries.
In 1939 Mr Jack Cable married Miss Gertrude Cooper nee Gutherlas. They lived at 3 Bell Grove, Aylesham, Kent.

The Death of Mrs Cable.
In February 1950 Mrs Gertrude Cable sadly passed away.

The Later Years.
Mr Jack Cable was still playing tournament billiards up to the 1950’s, In July 1950 he had won a competition at the Woolwich Town Social Club. In February 1951 the Chatham News reported on a billiard and snooker exhibition at Chatham Town Hall, John Pulman and Sydney Lee played a series of exhibition matches throughout Thursday 1st, Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd of February 1951. Jack Cable who was identified as the (ex-Welsh champion) was one of three local players who were chosen to play against Mr John Pulman.

The Death of Mr Jack Cable.
On Friday 16th of May 1958, Mr Jack Cable passed away at his home at Bell Grove, Aylesham, Kent. He had been a retired colliery deputy, he was a councillor on the Nonington Parish Council and general secretary of the Workers Union at Kent.

On Friday 23rd of May 1958, the Kentish Express newspaper printed a piece on the death of Mr Cable it touched on the fact that he had worked at Snowdown Colliery, Kent and was secretary of the Snowdown Branch of the National Union of Mineworkers, an Eastry R.D. Councillor and steward of both working mens’ clubs at Aylesham.

At his time of passing, Mr Jack Cable was survived by his 5 children, 16 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Mr Clive Beard.
I would like to give credit to Clive Beard of Birchington, Kent (a descendant of Mr Cable) for the photographs and for his invaluable help in the compiling of this story.