24 Facts About Herbert Beetham

James Herbert Beetham was an English billiards player and soft drink manufacturer.

Herbert Beetham won the 1960 World Amateur Billiards Championship which marked the pinnacle of his career.

Herbert Beetham was married to Florence Maud Beetham until her death in December 1975 and he had a son Philip and daughter Sheila.

Herbert Beetham's family moved to Normanton where he spent most of his life.

Herbert Beetham had not started playing the game of billiards seriously until the age of 19, although he had played billiards occasionally on sporadic circumstances around the age of 14.

Herbert Beetham began playing on a quarter sized table in the attic at his home.

Herbert Beetham ran the family business White Brothers mineral water manufacturing company in Derby taking over from his parents and became a prominent successful businessman.

Herbert Beetham pointed out that if he had considered billiards as a profession he should have spent huge amount of pounds to play in club level.

Herbert Beetham started playing billiards at St Thomas's Church Institute in the Derby Institute League until 1960 before it was disbanded.

Herbert Beetham later joined the Walbrook Institute to continue his passion towards playing billiards.

Herbert Beetham was set to take part at the 1942 English Amateur Billiards Championship but the tournament was called off due to World War II and he was sent back home.

Herbert Beetham joined the Burton Fire Brigade in 1942 temporarily and served as a firefighter.

Herbert Beetham was notably one of the firefighters who arrived at the scene early during the RAF Fauld explosion which happened on 27 November 1944 at the RAF Fauld underground munitions storage depot in Staffordshire.

Herbert Beetham reached English Amateur Billiards Championship final in 1946 which was his post-war final but eventually lost to Manchester's Mendel Showman.

Herbert Beetham increased his lead to 271, but Driffield fought back, with the help of a 142 break, to be 174 behind at the end of that session.

Herbert Beetham lost the 1959 English Amateur Billiards Championship final, which was his fourth defeat in as many finals.

Herbert Beetham ended the 24 year wait of registering a major Amateur Billiards Championship.

Herbert Beetham defeated Australia's Jim Long in the 1960 World Amateur Championship which was held in Edinburgh.

Herbert Beetham won the English Amateur Billiards Championship titles in 1961 and 1962, making it as Hat-trick of titles in English Amateur Championship.

Herbert Beetham was regarded as a prominent billiards player during the post World War years.

Herbert Beetham remained as an amateur billiards player throughout his career without attempting to enter the professional level and instead continued his soft drink manufacturing business from where he left off with his son Philip Beetham.

Herbert Beetham served as a founder member and the first President of Derbyshire Billiards and Snooker Association.

Herbert Beetham too served as Derbyshire's representative of the Billiards and Snooker Control Council.

Herbert Beetham died in April 1992 due to cancer at the age of 82 in Derby.