Tributes to snooker champ who played greats

Tributes have been paid to a former West Midlands amateur snooker champion who has died aged 89.

Bernard 'Bunny' Carter played alongside luminaries such as Ray Reardon, Dennis Taylor and Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins and was a lifelong member of Wednesbury Conservative Club's snooker team.

He died on March 22 after a battle with bowel cancer.

Born and bred in Wednesbury, Bernard was one of four children. He was just 4ft 11in tall was was nicknamed 'Bunny' because of his height.

His brother George Carter, aged 87, who now lives in Devon, said: "Bernard was a very well known snooker player who became West Midlands amateur champion and played against some of the big names — Ray Reardon, Dennis Taylor, Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins."

He was named winner of the West Midlands Amateur Snooker Championship in the 1946/47 season and winner of the Wolverhampton Amateur Snooker Championship in the 1950 season.

Mr Carter attended St Mary's Catholic School, but left aged 14 and he became a hairdresser until the war.

He then came out of hairdressing to work in the steel trade.

Mr Carter remained in the steel industry working at Woodhouse and Rixon Ltd. He had four nephews and one niece, but never married.

His great nephew David Morley added: "He was such a quiet, shy man. Most people didn't know any of this.

"Back in the day he used to go and play snooker three, maybe four times a week and possibly weekends as well. Because he was such a quiet shy man he wasn't a big headed person."

Mr Carter's funeral was on Tuesday at St Mary's Church in Wednesbury. He was buried at Fallings Heath Cemetery.