Thats not to say we are stuck in the past, our continued investment in technology and our people means we are able work on technical fabrics alongside fine fashion fabrics all under the watchful eye of a team of dedicated and highly skilled weavers and textile designers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Spencer,_8th_Earl_Spencer Unsurprisingly, his marriage broke up, but he received unswerving support and loyalty from his partner of the last 16 years, Jean. John Spencer is a family owned British weaving business making a wide range of fabrics in a diverse selection of yarns and raw materials. Oldest first, -1) ? Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, Email already exists. Lancashire Enter your email to follow new comments on this article. He appeared a less likely choice as chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, particularly during the regular periods of unrest and civil war that have been detrimental to the sport in recent times.

try again, the name must be unique, Please If you would like to talk to a member of the team about your specific project please contact us, we’re always happy to help. ", Ray Edmonds, a contemporary and later commentary-box colleague, described Spencer as a "professional's professional". Ashfield Mill From cloth components for nuclear submarine bearings to high-end luxury fashion fabrics. Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

Spencer and Reardon were never close friends away from the table, perhaps a reason why their rivalry on it was so fierce.

Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Fully Organic, from yarn to fabric... Patrick Grant from the BBC Great British Sewing Bee visits John Spencer Textiles. One of his last public appearances was at a book signing session at the Grand Prix in Preston last October; a month later he received a lifetime achievement award from the Snooker Writers' Association. Log in to update your newsletter preferences, Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email. It’s not just about cotton, shuttles and heavy industry, our recent significant investments in advanced planning software and world-leading warping machinery allow us to advance the types of fabric we produce. The steroids caused him to suffer terrible mood swings, devastating for someone who had been known as the game's No 1 practical joker.

Terry Griffiths, the 1979 world champion, said: "I probably played John after his best, but he never complained when he lost. In 1975 he was also the inaugural winner of the game's longest running invitation event, the Benson & Hedges Masters, and in 1979 the first professional to compile a competitive 147 maximum break. With his vast knowledge of the game and its characters, Spencer was an ideal choice as a television summariser. "Everyone thought we were the best of friends, which certainly wasn't true as far as I was concerned," Spencer said a couple of years ago. After leading Jimmy White, he eventually lost 5-3, but his prize of £9,000 remained the largest of his career. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. He wasn't as confrontational as Alex Higgins, or as successful as Ray Reardon, but John Spencer was an integral part of the threesome that helped change the face of snooker in the 1970s. In 2003, Spencer was diagnosed with the lung and stomach cancer that eventually ended his life. No hype, just the advice and analysis you need, Register with your social account or click here to log in. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss He just shook your hand and that was credit to him.". Our mill is lovingly driven by a passionate team and has been operating in Burnley since 1871, nearly 150 years! John Spencer, snooker player: born Radcliffe, Lancashire 18 September 1935; English Amateur Champion 1966; World Champion 1969, 1971, 1977; Benson & Hedges Masters champion 1975; Benson & Hedges Irish Masters champion 1978; Chairman, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association 1990-96; married 1969 Margot Sawbridge; died Bury, Lancashire 11 July 2006. Guidelines.

Welcome to John Spencer We are a family-owned and operated weaving mill in Lancashire, the heart of UK textile manufacture and a place we are proud to be located.

Most liked, -1) ? Oldest first, -1) ? He wrote movingly about his condition and the devastating side effects of his steroid intake in his autobiography, Out of the Blue into the Black (2005). Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post try again, the name must be unique, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful There were other lesser titles for the Lancastrian, who died on Tuesday in a cancer hospice just a few miles from Radcliffe, where he was born, one of five children, in 1935. In 1985 Spencer was diagnosed with the incurable eye disease myasthenia gravis, a condition that brought a premature end to his career and also took him to the brink of insanity. Whether it’s working on your design, planning your production or the day-to-day management of your project, we are all weavers and we really do understand fabric. John Spencer were the first UK cotton weaving mill to be awarded Soil Association and Global Organic Textile Standard accreditation and can offer both natural coloured and yarn dyed cotton and linen textiles that are organic at every stage from farm to fabric. Higgins, who denied him a fourth world title in 1972, was still at the peak of his powers. Most liked. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies

Had it not been for his arch-rival Reardon and the emergence of an Ulster firebrand called Higgins, Spencer would certainly have dominated the game to a far greater extent. Despite the health problems, Spencer played on, and in 1987 reached the quarter-finals of the Dulux British Open at Derby. Independent Premium. Active Way He was to be seen less and less at tournaments, although he was always a welcome visitor. Despite the sadness surrounding his later years Spencer will always be fondly remembered for being one of snooker's all-time great exponents as well as a legendary prankster and practical joker. they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium.

Few have bettered his brand of dry wit and intelligent commentary. "I never really got to know him personally," Reardon, a six-time world champion, confirmed on hearing of Spencer's death.

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