LMSSL members locate Thurston snooker table for Government House.

1. BILLIARDS TABLE AT
BC GOVERNMENT HOUSE 2011
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2. INTRO: THURSTON SNOOKER TABLE
The snooker table quest all started in November of 2010 when His Honour,
The Honourable Steven Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia had
the idea of installing a snooker/billiards table for use by resident guests of
Government House. During the course of any given year, Government
House hosts VIP resident guests such as members of Royalty and Heads of
State from around the world. During their stay they have limited
entertainment options within the House (TV, Internet, Swimming Pool) and
His Honour wanted to provide them with an activity/social area that was
befitting of a vice regal residence. There was once a snooker table at
Government House, and since guests had at times requested one, he felt
that a snooker table and a devoted ‘games’ room were more than
appropriate.
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3. Jerymy Brownridge, Director of Operations, was charged with sourcing such
a table. He initially requested the Administrative Assistant, Willow Easton,
to contact some BC & Yukon Legion branches, since we had heard that
some were closing down and we thought they might have a nice table
available. Nothing we came across seemed to be appropriate so we decided
to seek the advice of an expert. An internet search for ‘BC SNOOKER’ came
up with the “BC Cue Sports Society” listed first. Their site looked authentic
to say the least. Willow first tried calling Michael Jaffe, their President. After
no answer, she tried Director Jim Boak’s number. His wife answered and
kindly arranged to have Mr. Boak return her call. Mr. Boak was very
enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
We had found our man.
CLICK TO CONTINUE.

4. It just so happened that the Executive Director and Private Secretary to The
Lieutenant Governor at the time, Herb LeRoy, was headed to Vancouver that
weekend. A meeting between the two, Mr. Boak and Mr. Leroy, was
arranged for Saturday, November 13th , 2010 at the Terminal City Club.
Back in Victoria a week later, Mr. LeRoy was enthusiastic about Mr. Boak,
his colleagues, and the table to be. Mr. Boak contacted us shortly thereafter,
having found a 1908 Thurston table for us. On Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Jerymy Brownridge went to Chilliwack to the house of Louise Wutke, recent
widow of former snooker enthusiast and cue maker, Dan Wutke, to inspect
the table and approve its purchase. He found it and a selection of her late
husband’s cues very befitting of the House.
Thus the table’s journey to
Government House began...
SUBMITTED BY WILLOW EASTON, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
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5. The LEADER VOLUNTEER
of the project:
Jim Boak,
Richmond, BC.

6. Volunteer assistants:
L to R Frank Bourassa, Ted Wormworth & Jim.

7. Found a Thurston, note the company inauguration date.
SO WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT A THURSTON ?

8. THURSTON
The name Thurston has been synonymous with the sport of billiards and
snooker since 1799. John Thurston, a fine furniture and cabinet maker by
trade, is considered by many to be the father of modern day billiards and
snooker.
John Thurston was responsible for the introduction of most of the
technological improvements made to tables in the nineteenth century.
This included the slate bed (1826), rubber cushions (1845), and the
bottomless pockets (1887).
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9. Thurston’s was granted several Royal Warrants.
1826 by his majesty King George IV
1833 by his majesty King William IV
1837 by her majesty Queen Victoria
1907 by his majesty King Edward VII
1911 by his majesty King George V
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10. In 1891 the Thurston table was selected and specified in the “Rules of the
Billiard Association” as the standard on which all Billiard and Snooker tables
are still based.
SUBMITTED BY JIM BOAK.
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11. Actual nameplate on this table.
By Appointment to his/her Majesty.

12. This letter from the Thurston company was written
to Mr. Dan Wutke, authenticating this full size
snooker table.

13. What a find. Let’s make a deal.

14. You mean we have to label every single nut and cover plate? Absolutely.

15. Is Louise having second thoughts?
Long time family friend Jack Grant is there for support.

16. Jim checking for imperfections in the slate.

17. Beginning the move. Note the numbering.
The cover plate is also numbered on the back.

18. This is serious. The first piece of slate is carefully removed.
It weighs about 370 pounds or about 168 kg.

19. Numbering that must match when re-assembled.

20. More numbering that must match when re-assembled.
Note the serial number 10791 and the company stamp.

21. An expanded view of the previous slide.

22. Simon Pickering straps each piece of slate.
Any jarring or dropping in transit could
break this slate !

23. Three
short pieces
Longest fitted
single into
piece larger
of wider
frame ! cross-
pieces.

24. A wonderful example of an
old-time mortise and tenon
joint in wood. This is how this table
holds itself together.
mortise
rectangular cavity
See the big bolts.
These attach the rails
horizontally to the slate.
tenons
rectangular projection

25. Text
Can you find examples of mortise and tenon joints?

26. Milan Lata: Simon Pickering:
Billiards Table Apprentice. Billiards Table Mechanic.
Victoria tomorrow.

27. Is this my new home?
Not like Louise’s place, is it ?
Looks like an old cloak room to me. Let’s look in there!

28. This is a
cloakroom !
Where’s a
snooker
table
going
to go?

29. This is
better !
They knocked
out some
closets !
Let’s
look at
the other side
of the
room !

30. Nice wall
panels.
Nice
pattern
in the
carpet.

31. Jerymy welcomes the crew. But that’s not where it goes, is it?

32. Must be centred. We can’t move it later.

33. Looks OK from here.

34. Tightening the bolts.
Guess I’m here to stay.

35. Great work, guys. Carry on.

36. Looking in from the hallway!
Not bad for an old cloakroom, is it?

37. Looking out toward the hallway!

38. Levelling the slate for the first time requires patience.

39. Smoothing and filling the cracks is next in line.

40. Project is proceeding very well.
The table must settle in the carpet for weeks.

41. And the
table light fixture
has been installed !
Three weeks later.
Filler looks fine.

42. Ready for levelling. Look at the small
wedges that will be used to adjust the slate
in the next slide.

43. Final levelling is absolutely crucial to this project.
Milan is tapping on the hardwood wedges to make tiny
changes to level the slate on top of the wooden frame.

44. Now the rails will be bolted back on to the slate for sanding. Then the new rubber
cushions will be glued on with the rails still attached to the table.

45. Note that the pocket irons have not been
installed yet so that the rubber cushions can be
marked according to the templates.
See the next slide.

46. The template must be used to
draw lines on the masking tape to
show where to cut the rubber.

47. The rubber is partially cut for a
corner pocket.

48. Final trimming of the corner pocket cushions.

49. Simon and Jim ponder what
they must do to conform to
the shape of the template.

50. Cushion rubbers have all been shaped; now the rails have been
removed from the table to tack the felt on them.

51. Looks GREAT
with the bed-felt on.

52. Remember the ”big bolts”.
Simon is re-attaching a rail for the final time.
Note that the big bolts screw horizontally
into the slate bed.
Bolt hole cover plates.
Taped and numbered.

53. Re-attaching the “last spike”.

54. Basic table is complete.
Only the lines and spots must be drawn.

55. The baulk line is drawn.

56. Spots are lined up and measured with care.

57. Looks good to me! But put the green
and yellow on their spots, please.

58. Now they’re on!
Ready, set, go!

59. Boys love
their toys!
Jerymy and Ted
admire the cue
collection !

60. The basic house
cues are new Peradon
Cues which
are now part of the
Thurston
group of companies.

61. Our collection of cues
has a “made in BC”
flavour from two
well-known local
CUE MAKERS!
A pair of
Dan Wutke
cues with a
short extension
from his
CueCraft Shop
in Chilliwack.

62. ANOTHER
WELL-KNOWN BC
CUE MAKER
A sample of the craftsmanship
of Mr. Tom Gauthier
Vancouver, B.C.

63. Jim Boak checks out the side pocket
by slamming a hard shot and hoping
the table doesn’t bounce it out.

64. Jerymy checks out the corner pocket.

65. Final touches to the games room.
Note the padded bar stools!

66. The last touch to the games room.
See the lovely new folding doors on the cloakroom closets!

67. CREDITS
BC GOVERNMENT HOUSE STAFF
HERB LEROY: Executive Director and Private Secretary. Met with Mr. Boak
on Saturday, November 13th , 2010 at the Terminal City Club and charged him
with searching for a suitable snooker table, its purchase, its move and its
installation.
JERYMY BROWNRIDGE: Director of Operations. Was charged with the task of
setting up a games room with a suitable snooker table. Requested the Administrative
Assistant, Willow Easton, to contact some BC & Yukon Legion branches for
information on how to proceed with the sourcing of a table, etc.
WILLOW EASTON: Administrative Assistant. Did an Internet search, contacted a
director of BC Cue Sports, Mr. Boak and then arranged for him to meet with
Mr. Leroy, contributing photographer.

68. CREDITS
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
JIM BOAK: PROJECT LEADER: Charged with finding and acquiring an antique snooker
table and supervising its move, its installation and providing technical advice.
TED WORMWORTH: Provider of supplies and equipment. Contributing photographer.
FRANK BOURASSA: HISTORIAN/ARCHIVIST: Responsible for photography, historical
data, and pictorial essay. (Powerpoint/iMac Keynote photo program.)
PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS/MOVING/INSTALLATION
SIMON PICKERING: BILLIARDS TABLE MECHANIC. Contracted to move and install
antique Thurston snooker table from Chilliwack to Victoria.
MILAN LATA: BILLIARDS TABLE MECHANIC APPRENTICE. Assisted with packing and
moving snooker table to Victoria.

69. THE END
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