Rex Williams Receives BEM

Former WPBSA Chairman Rex Williams has been honoured with a BEM (British Empire Medal) for services to snooker and billiards.

Alongside Reanne Evans, Stourbridge’s 87-year-old Williams was the second snooker figure to be named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Rex was an outstanding billiards player, winning the World Championship title seven times. On the snooker table, he twice played John Pulman in the World Championship final, when it was played as a challenge match, and once the event reverted to a knockout format he reached the semi-finals three times. In 1986 he reached the final of the Grand Prix at the age of 53, losing to Jimmy White.

He was also heavily involved in the administration of the sport, being the founder chairman of the WPBSA from 1968 to 1987, and again taking charge from 1997 to 1999. For many years he was a regular commentator on BBC and ITV. In 2016 he was inducted into the Snooker Hall of Fame.

WST congratulates Rex on receiving the BEM.

Article by WST.